Since May 2003 :

Delivered over 100,000 loaves of leftover bread to the needy.

Distributed thousands of surplus meals from restauranteurs to the needy.

Recruited hundreds of young volunteers to visit people in old age homes.

Recruited ten's of volunteers to lead Sunday monthly outings for disadvantaged children.

Involved thousands of volunteers in kindness and fundraising projects.

£50,000 raised for over 100 local Jewish charities, Israel charities and general charities.

Launched GIFT BOX- in 30 shops around London – collecting & distributing thousands of food parcels to families in need.

GIFT Summary – Jan – April 2012

Social Action & Giving in schools

GIFT promotes ‘giving’ in schools, cheders and youth organisations by getting the students involved in one-off and regular volunteering projects; thereby facilitating their becoming more giving people and imbuing them with a sense of responsibility for the well-being of their community.

• The highlight of this term was the Tu Bishvat project. GIFT encouraged pupils to bring one item of fruit. Schools in turn created over 300 baskets of fruit. In total throughout the country 10500 children participated in this ‘giving’ project.
• This term, GIFT it Forward has been re-launched in a number of schools across the country. This now brings the total amount of children involved in this project to 3500. 1350 certificates have been presented to school children.
• GIFT ran educational and creative sessions for 2780 children in schools, cheders and youth groups. During these sessions students learned about GIFT, the art of giving and created  items for children in orphanages or in a local special needs centre ie decorated mezuzah cases, mirrors, keyrings, door plaques or photo frames.
• Hasmonean girls fashion show and Hasmonean Primary School (Charity of the year) raised £2000 for GIFT.
• GIFT ran 2 major school charity projects. In King David Manchester GIFT ran sessions and organised fundraising technique sessions for Magen David Adom. In Hasmonean girls school 60 students participated in the GIFT apprentice project. They had 3 sessions on running charity events and girls were split into groups to create a project. GIFT are now working with the winning group to ensure the event is realistic and viable.
• GIFT’s bat mitzvah and bar mitzvah parties have once again proved very popular. 125 children took part in these giving parties.
• GIFT ran charity fairs for 780 children across 4 different schools. The students have the opportunity to sign up to volunteer for GIFT or a charity of their choice. This has produced many new volunteers.
• GIFT has been chosen as the charity of the year at LSJS Kollot program for Bat Mitzva girls and their mothers, across London. GIFT presented sessions to over 100 women and have launched a toiletry collection scheme within this group. The girls will spend the next 2 months

collecting toiletries and will parcel them up in baskets, cellophane & ribbon and present them to those families and organisations that GIFT helps on a regular basis.

• GIFT continues to partner up with Yavneh College with their Yad Yavneh baking program. Every week, 35 children prepare, bake / cook different food items which are given out to GIFT families.  

Food Distribution

• Each week 160 young GIFT volunteers help to distribute 2,000 loaves of bread/challot/rolls/cakes to those in need.
•  Every fortnight, 1.25 tonnes of fruit and vegetables are generously donated to GIFT by supermarket distributors, a new organic supplier, a grocer based in Edgware and umbrella charities. The food is sorted and packed at GIFT packathons at the GIFT warehouse, where young professionals, students, school children, together with their families come together in a fun environment to make a difference.
• 1,700 people benefit from the bread, vegetables, fruit and GIFT BOX food each week. The beneficiaries include 195 local families in need across the UK including; Hendon, Golders Green, Edgware, Borehamwood, Potters Bar, Essex, Stamford Hill, Manchester and Liverpool. GIFT also provides food parcels to organisations including; residents at JBD in four London locations; Norwood residential homes, Harmony Close (sheltered accommodation), Jewish Women’s Refuge and homeless shelters around London, Liverpool and Manchester. During this quarter GIFT have taken on 20 new families, and 10 families have come off the list due to an improvement in their circumstances.
• 175 families receive food via GIFT from shops, restaurants, distributors, caterers, school events, private functions and Shul Kiddushim.
• 42 GIFT Box collections take place every week. As these have recently been promoted in educational sessions GIFT has seen a massive increase of GIFT box givers.
• GIFT’s Purim and Pesach appeals attracted hundreds of volunteers and produced  over £18,000 worth of food.
• Each month over 13,000 items of food worth £19,000 are donated through the GIFT BOX project. The food is collected and distributed by young volunteers, mainly sixth formers, giving their time to make a difference.
• GIFT distributes £593,000 worth of food annually.

Helping Hand

• 94 young volunteers give their time each week to help with children and their families. The Helping Hand scheme facilitates weekly visits to families; helping with homework, playtime, dinner and bed time. This helps to support parents, many of them unwell or single mothers, whilst also involving volunteers giving of their time and benefitting from the rewarding experience.
• GIFT’s tutoring and homework schemes supports, enables and offers the opportunity for children from GIFT’s recipient families to receive extra one to one tuition of their subject choice. This scheme benefits 50 children weekly and has been a huge hit.

GIFT supper quiz

• GIFT ran a unique international simultaneous supper quiz. 25 hosts hosted 300 people in their homes. Participants had the opportunity to choose the charity of their choice. On one evening, £5000 was raised for over 20 different charities.

Purim and Spiel Factor

• GIFT volunteers raised £10,000 over Purim. Volunteers prepared skits, songs and dances  in addition to  taking to the streets with collection buckets, to raise money for our cause.
• GIFT together with a volunteer committee ran the GIFT spiel factor. 200 people came together in the Hendon Community Centre on Purim evening. Over £30,000 was raised for 25 different charities.   

Up and Coming GIFT Shavuot project

• GIFT is currently working on its Shavuot project. Last year GIFT 1500 school children participated in this project. The project entails children bringing in a flower or a bunch of flowers which are made in school into bouquets and distributed families in our community and old age homes. At the current stage (21 May) over 3500 children have signed up to participate in this project.

Gift 2009 Summary

Vital Statistics 2009

Vital Statistics 2010

2010 Newsletter