Comment from a low-income mother made Sanni from Eurajoki stop and think – now she’s spreading Christmas cheer through Commu
In 2026, there are over 170,000 children living in low-income families in Finland. Sanni from Eurajoki offered on Commu to provide Advent calendars for children from families on low incomes, and she received more enquiries than she could have expected.
The idea to help came about from an online discussion where parents were comparing their children’s Advent calendars: book calendars, jigsaw puzzle calendars, toy calendars, their contents, and what sort of calendars families were planning to buy this Christmas. A mother posted in the thread, expressing her hope that her family could at least afford the cheapest chocolate advent calendar.
That comment struck a chord with Sanni, who lives in Eurajoki. She wanted to help families in the same situation and posted an offer of help on the Commu community app. Commu is a Finnish app designed to help people, where you can ask for help or offer to help in your local area.
“I offered to buy an Advent calendar for children whose families can’t afford to buy one,” Sanni explains. “I thought it might be a really nice surprise for a family on a tight budget – one that doesn’t really have the money, not even a couple of euros, to spend on a calendar – and a gesture that would bring joy for the whole month.”
The numerous messages she’s received have shown just how tight things are for many families. Some said they go grocery shopping with a calculator in their hands. According to Sanni, helping out via Commu has gone smoothly, and it has felt good.
Asking for help is for everyone
On Commu, you can both offer and ask for help. Sanni already has her own request in mind: next summer she’s organising a party, and she can’t take her elderly dog to a kennel. So she plans to ask on Commu if anyone could look after the dog for the weekend.
Although asking for help isn’t difficult for Sanni herself, she recognises that for many people it’s a big hurdle to overcome. She sees Commu as an important tool in this regard. You can also ask for help anonymously on the app, and only the helper knows who needs help.
“In the current state of the world, more people need help – I’m certainly not the only one. And everyone, whether they’re well-off or not, needs help at some point in their lives.”
Sanni believes that helping others doesn’t require much. Commu features small requests and offers, such as walking a dog or helping with raking leaves, and you can respond to them regardless of your own circumstances. Even someone with, for example, mobility issues can offer companionship.
“My financial situation isn’t great either, but it’s better than many others’. You can give to others from what little you have; I believe everyone can help in some way.”
She believes that good deeds also foster a sense of community in her home town of Eurajoki. “If people in Eurajoki give and ask for help a lot, then that sort of community spirit of working together and looking out for one another grows. It’s a bit like a snowball effect. Without an app like this, it wouldn’t happen on its own.”
Sanni recommends Commu to everyone. According to Sanni, the great thing about Commu is that you can see the impact and results of your own help straight away; the help doesn’t just disappear somewhere far away. She also sees it being useful in emergency situations. When people in the local area find each other in one place, help can reach those in need even when everyday life takes an unexpected turn.
As Christmas approaches, Sanni hopes that many people will give some of their own to someone who is struggling even more. It could be a Christmas present, some food or a few homemade Christmas biscuits.
“When you help through Commu, you can see the impact of your good deed straight away. It makes you feel good, and I believe that the kindness you give always comes round to you.”
If you want to help or need help yourself, Commu could be a good place to start. Download the app now and see what kind of help is being asked for and given in your local area!