GIFT’s Purim initiative spreads joy to care homes across London and Manchester

More than 150 young volunteers visited 11 care homes across London and Manchester delivering Mishloach Manot (Purim gift baskets) as part of a new Purim initiative by social action charity GIFT.

In the weeks leading up to the festival, GIFT’s volunteering community, including schools and youth groups, packed over 1,600 bags of the traditional baskets, which included a specially designed large print activity book.

Additionally, the organisation ensured that the remaining Mishloach Manot packs were distributed to GIFT recipient families, further extending the ethos and reach of giving within the community.

This year’s Purim initiative marked the launch of GIFT’s innovative Care-Nection program, designed to empower young people to build meaningful relationships with care home residents through regular visits and engagement throughout the year.

The Simchat Purim Initiative is in memory of sisters Marianne Arakie, Kathleen Benjamin and Sarah Noah. Together with their parents and siblings, they arranged an annual Purim celebration at the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish care home in Wembley for nearly 50 years.

GIFT’s also collected a record £26,000, all of which was distributed to GIFT families in need on Purim itself.

Chani Simon, high schools educator at GIFT, said: “We are thrilled by the overwhelming response from the young people in our community who dedicated their Purim morning to visit care homes. Their acts of kindness transformed Purim for both the volunteers and the residents, creating moments of pure joy and connection.”

Reflecting on her experience, 16-year-old Shira said: “Visiting and speaking to the residents totally made my Purim. I can’t wait to do this again” whilst volunteer Michal said: “It was such a humbling and life changing experience – seeing smiles on their faces not only brightens up their day but ours too!!”