AIBU to ask for contributions to a charity instead of wine/chocolate/hostess gifts?

[TheKitchenWitch]

I'm genuinely not sure about this, so please tell me what you think.

I am hosting a pre-Christmas craft evening for friends, where we make something together and then have cheese, wine, nibbles etc. I did it last year too and it was lovely, a really nice way to kick off the season.
I provide everything, but obviously most people brought a small thank you - a bottle of wine, or chocolates etc.
Now, while the thought is appreciated, we are fairly inundated with this stuff at Christmas, so I was wondering whether it would be completely off to say instead to pop a euro or two into a tin, as I'm going to make my usual Christmas contribution to the animal shelter in Spain that we got our dog from.

Do you think that is a bad idea, or would you be ok with it?

Could always take all the chocolates to a food bank.

I suppose it could come across as ‘expecting’ a gift. But personally it wouldn’t bother me. I’d have taken wine or chocolates, so I’d be happy to donate that money if you were happier with that.

I wouldn't say anything. Just donate any unneeded gifts to charity.

No I don’t think you can - it looks grabby

No I wouldn't. It does look grabby. Thank them and as suggested take them to a food bank.

I wouldn't be keen - my relationship would be with you, not the Spanish dogs. Plus everyone will know you haven't been keen on previous gifts

It wouldn’t actually bother me to be asked to donate but etiquette around gifts really varies in the UK so agree with others - fine to say no need to bring anything as you’ll have loads of Christmas goodies; but asking for donations is different somehow to people bringing a token gift. Chocolates and sweets can be donated to food banks; just keep wine in a cupboard for the next social event you need to take a bottle to.

I don’t think you should ask for donations in lieu of a gift for that kind of event, sorry

I wouldn’t, but then I hate being asked in person or via social media for donations. I give to charity under my own directive, privately and discreetly. I don’t need, want or appreciate anyone trying to get my hand in my pocket. I make my own decision around charitable giving.

I would rather be asked to bring a contribution for the event itself, nibbles wise. Leaving you to donate the money you would spend on that. Tbh if one of my friends hosted us every year there's no way we would let her cover all the cost every time anyway.

What if you changed the way you did it and instead of you providing all the nibbles, cheese and wine, ask people to bring things. I don’t think people would object if you said in advance something like, I’m getting wine but could people bring nibbles etc with them? If I did something like this with my friends we would probably do it like this, where everyone brought something for the night itself (rather than a thank you gift) so no one person had to pay for and organise it all.

Then you can give the money you would have spent on food to the charity.

Ok, thank you for the feedback everyone!
I won't be doing it like that, general concensus seems to be no.

It's not that I haven't appreciated the gifts, it's just that there is so much of it at that time of year anyway. I don't know of any food banks around here (not in the UK) that accept donations from the general public.

I wouldn't want them bringing anything, part of what I love doing is preparing food for friends and I know they will be looking forward to what I've come up with this year.

I think it depends on your friends.

Most of my friends are really into animals and from time to time we'll have a fund-raising dinner round someone's house and all donate to an animal shelter or other animal related cause.

Maybe chat to them and see how they would feel about it.