Party ideas for absolute strangers

I want to host a gift exchange party in my neighborhood. Everyone would be required to bring a mysterious wrapped gift. But I wouldn't put a price limitation, just a general recommendation of $5+ value. The main point of the party is to get people who have never met each other before, to get together at the party and realize that we all live nearby each other and could hang out more often if we wanted to. The gift exchange would be the "plot hook" to get people to attend, but the gifts aren't the real prize. I just want to meet new people and actually have friends again. Is that a good idea? I've never hosted a public party before.