On Bank Holiday Monday, GIFT hosted its 4th annual GIVEFEST, a family fun day filled with activities and volunteering opportunities, themed around Israel. The event drew an impressive turnout of 850 people of all ages and was made possible by the dedication of 80 volunteers, including many teens who chose to spend their day giving back to the community.
GIVEFEST 2024 featured a variety of interactive and engaging stalls that highlighted the importance of volunteering and helping Israel. Upon completing each volunteering stall each child received a stamp on a card and once collecting all the stamps they earned an incredible balloon creation. Among the Giving Stalls were:
Kotel Kindness Pledges: Encouraging participants to make personal commitments to acts of kindness.
Bring Them Home Badges: Creating awareness and support for those taken hostage.
Candles for Chayalim: Crafting candles to show solidarity and support for Israeli soldiers.
Shrink Art for Shalva: Making shrink art creations to support Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
The event also offered four “Fun with Volunteers” stalls, providing henna art, face painting, hair braiding, and glitter tattoos, ensuring entertainment for children and families alike. The carnival zone was a major attraction, with rides and inflatables inspired by famous Israeli landmarks such as the Beit Guvrin Caves, inflatable camel rides, Masada base jump, and a dedicated toddler zone.
A special “People Who Help Us” zone was set up, featuring demonstrations and interactions with essential community services including Hatzola and Good Egg Medical.
Michelle Barnett MBE, the Founding Director of GIFT, expressed her gratitude and the importance of the event, stating, “Across London, Manchester, and Israel, GIFT inspires giving. We know that being kind or helping others isn’t something that happens automatically. It is a mindset that needs to be taught, nurtured, and encouraged, so that present and future generations are imbued with this core tenet of Judaism. We are immensely grateful to all of our wonderful volunteers and generous supporters; through you, we are able to inspire and enable lifelong giving, creating a community that is engaged, supported, and empowered by the gift of giving. Thank you to all those who joined us at GIVEFEST.”
GIVEFEST continues to grow in popularity and impact each year, bringing the community together to celebrate and promote the spirit of giving. GIFT looks forward to continuing this tradition and expanding its reach to inspire even more acts of kindness and volunteerism in the future.
GIVEFEST is coming to Manchester on Sunday 23rd June, book your tickets at www.jgift.org/givefestmanc
For more information about GIFT and its initiatives, please visit www.jgift.org.
About GIFT:
GIFT (Give It Forward Today) is a charity dedicated to promoting a culture of giving through education and volunteering opportunities. Operating across London, Manchester, and Israel, GIFT aims to instill the values of kindness and community support, nurturing these principles across all generations.
