Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, and a team of Barnet councillors armed themselves with paint and brushes in aid of Norwood yesterday as they took part in one of the Charity’s many Mitzvah Day activities. The group gave a lounge and hallway at Norwood residential accommodation in Finchley a much-needed lick of paint during the Jewish community’s day of good deeds. They were among dozens of volunteers from across the community who rolled up their sleeves to participate in Mitzvah Day activities organised by Norwood, a charity which supports people with learning disabilities and children and families in need.
The aim of Mitzvah Day is to encourage people to give up their time to perform a good deed for others. At Norwood’s Kennedy Leigh Family Centre in Hendon, members of Edgware Reform and Norris Lea synagogues painted a mural, cleaned toys and prepared refreshments for an ‘Antiques Roadshow’ event being held at the centre in the evening. Meanwhile, other members of Edgware Reform Synagogue and Cheder students put their creative skills to the test as they made Chanukah cards for Norwood residents.
Elsewhere, members of Maidenhead Reform and Wimbledon synagogues helped make decorations for an upcoming Chanukah dance at Ravenswood, Norwood’s residential community for adults with learning disabilities in Berkshire, while students at King Solomon High School cleaned toys at Norwood’s Leonard Sainer Family Centre in Redbridge.
Norwood itself also got involved in the spirit of Mitzvah Day by organising a ‘collectathon’ of hats, scarves and gloves at the Kennedy Leigh Family Centre in aid of World Jewish Relief.
Norma Brier, Norwood Chief Executive, said: “Mitzvah Day is a wonderful initiative which generates so much good will and positive energy. I was particularly impressed by the young people who volunteered at our family centres. They not only gave up their time in aid of Norwood but were also genuinely interested in our life-changing work.
“The residents of Oakfield Road are also thrilled with the fantastic results achieved by Mike Freer and his team of Barnet councillors following their redecoration of the house. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike and the many other people who volunteered for Norwood as part of Mitzvah Day.”
