GIFT’s twin objectives are to inspire and educate people to give while simultaneously helping those in need.
By KEREN PREISKELA GIFT-organized trip to Leket Israel last Passover, where participants – who included parents and grandparents; Israelis and tourists; singles and families – picked kohlrabi(photo credit: GIFT)
In today’s fast-paced world where we spend an ever-increasing amount of time in front of a screen, the concept of personal contact is cherished. Charities have been quick to recognize this with many offering not only the opportunity to donate money but also to donate time and participate in an experience that enriches both the charity and the volunteer.GIFT (Give It Forward Today) is one such charity. Originally established in the UK in 2003, GIFT Israel, run by British-born Hannah Cohn, has been in operation for the past two years, during which time it has grown exponentially. GIFT’s twin objectives are to inspire and educate people to give while simultaneously helping those in need. Cohn states that she “enjoys the constant challenge of creating new and innovative ways to enable people of all ages and backgrounds to give,” as well as the feedback she receives from both the giver and the receiver.GIFT aims to create a generation of givers, believing that children who are exposed to giving activities on a regular basis become adults who give. GIFT Israel creates opportunities for adults and children to give, volunteer, donate and try to constantly create new and innovative ways to give in order to make it a fun and meaningful experience for everyone involved. GIFT believes that giving is not simply about donating money to charity but is a state a mind that influences every aspect of our relationship with others, hence the emphasis on educational initiatives.While like any charity, GIFT relies on financial donations to continue its activities, donations of time and volunteer hours can produce even more direct financial value as well as a special and meaningful experience for all involved. For example, a donation of NIS 10,000 enables GIFT to generate 1,200 volunteer hours which in return produces a direct financial value of NIS 22,000 for the needy.To reach more people, GIFT Israel Educational Programs, the educational arm of GIFT Israel, partners with schools in Jerusalem and offers educational, hands-on sessions where children can learn about giving, volunteering and hessed (loving-kindness/ good deeds). GIFT works with 150 organizations in all areas of society and in a typical month runs programs for thousands of young people in schools, universities, youth groups and bar/bat mitzva programs.Each school or organization will have a tailored program to suit its needs with examples of activities including making greeting cards for the elderly, hot-drink care packages for soldiers, wall decorations for hospitals and fruit packages for the elderly on Tu Bishvat. These activities have been so successful that GIFT Israel has been invited to run parent-pupil evenings in schools and even organize activities for the graduating class party.The Yerushalayim Torah Academy for Girls (YTA) high school in Jerusalem, one of the schools with which GIFT Israel works, greatly appreciates GIFT’s educational activities stating that “for the past two years, Hannah [Cohn] has been coming to our high school in Jerusalem to share, inspire and create hessed opportunities with our students. Most of our student body are olim [immigrants] and having the opportunity to do hessed in the Holy Land is a very special mitzva that Hannah imparts with enthusiasm and love. Hannah and our students create beautiful holiday cards and succa decorations for residents of a local nursing home. Everyone looks forward to visits from the YTA students at the nursing home... This initiative is invaluable to instilling the mitzva of hessed in young people. Our students always look forward to Hannah’s projects and the opportunity to help!” In addition to the educational programs, GIFT Israel offers several other projects and innovative ways in which to give charity and still be personally involved.One such program is the GIFT Israel Simcha (celebration) project which runs bar/bat mitzva programs to add a giving element to the celebration. It arranges a hands-on activity for the guests to enjoy, either at the function hall or in their home. Such activities include decorating and planting flowerpots for the elderly, making care packages for underprivileged children and decorating photo frames for sick children. It also offers the opportunity of making customized centerpieces for the event which can be donated to a cause of the family’s choosing. These can include school and craft supplies for children’s homes and flowers and herbs for old-age homes. The charity will also arrange to collect the flowers at the end of the celebration and donate them to homes and hospitals if the family agrees.Schoolchildren with the Succot decorations they created for old-age homes (photo credit: GIFT)Tourists can also participate in GIFT’s activities, as a one-off stop on their itinerary or as an opportunity to volunteer with a charity during their time in Israel. The GIFT Israel Volunteer Tourism program arranges volunteer opportunities for families, individuals and groups, and works with the tourists to find the best match for them in terms of their interests and schedule.The organization will liaise with the charity directly to make the process as smooth as possible and also offer advice on charities should you need help in choosing one. It also assists many charities in order to provide them with much-needed volunteers.Examples of such activities include visits to charities to pack food boxes for the needy, trips to Leket Israel’s fields and orchards to pick fruit and vegetables, and Shabbat meals for lone soldiers. Tourists who have participated in such activities say it adds an extra element to their holiday and is often the highlight of the trip. A Canadian family who participated in such an experience wrote that “our family greatly enjoyed the hessed opportunity in Jerusalem that Hannah organized and appreciated her wonderful ideas, timely responses and scheduling coordination. We highly recommend getting in touch with GIFT Israel as you plan your Israel itinerary.”Another very popular initiative that GIFT offers is the GIFT summer camps. During the summer months, they run a popular camp on the theme of giving with daily trips to charities. The program includes arts and craft projects, baking and a whole host of other surprises. These camps are always full with a waiting list from one year to the next.The mother of Aderet, a summer-camp participant, highly recommends the summer camps and the many benefits her daughter received from the experience.Her daughter enjoyed “the feeling of empowerment, to really help others, at ages nine to 10, the increased empathy for different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, the ability to work as a team for the benefit of another, the empowering choices of where and how to spend time and donate, and the joy that above all permeated the camp.” Her mother stated: “I would send her all year long if a course existed and argue before the Education Ministry to make this a required course for all Israeli children or all citizens. What a different world we would live in. My heartfelt thanks to Hannah, who leads with creativity, compassion, modesty and joy.”Another, relatively new initiative that GIFT offers is Shabbat GIFT cards, which have proved very popular with gap-year students. For a minimum donation of NIS 30, you receive a pretty card that you can present to your Shabbat hosts stating that instead of giving them a present, money will be donated to provide Shabbat food for a family in need. This initiative simultaneously fills a niche and provides an opportunity to give.For people who perhaps don’t have the time to volunteer but still want to help and make a difference in some small way, GIFT arranges regular collections to help those less fortunate throughout the year. Previous drives have included a toy drive during Hanukka, a book drive and clothes drives to provide clothing and bedding for those in need.For further information, contact Hannah Cohn at hannah@jgift.org; www.jgift.org; Facebook page: GIFT Israel.
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