When invited for dinner by family or friends, the accepted norm is to bring wine, chocolates or flowers for the hosts.
Now as an alternative to “gifts no one really needs”, a Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue member has set up a website enabling hosts to ask their guests to make a charitable donation instead. And Jewish Care, Norwood, Chai Cancer Care and One Family are already on board.
Mandy Abkin, 51, said the motivation behind the GiveitAPP — launched in time for the High Holy-Days — was her frustration at buying and receiving presents that were nice but unnecessary.
“I thought that instead of people spending all this money on gifts for Rosh Hashanah or Succot, wouldn’t it be great if they could donate to a Jewish charity instead?”
She hopes her idea will help to bring about a change of mindset within the community.
“People like to take a gift because they think they should.
“But if hosts tell guests it is not necessary and to donate using GiveitAPP, think of the money that could be raised.”
The gift “can be anonymous, too. The hosts don’t find out how much you donated. The point is that you’ve done it.”
And if the website is successful, she plans to add other charities.
Ms Abkin added that her idea was a natural extension of social enterprises such as Kisharon’s gift and home store, Equal, in Golders Green. “I love buying a gift there because money goes back into the charity.”
