Volunteers including the Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Lisa Rutter, rolled up their sleeves and gave up their time for Norwood as part of Mitzvah Day. The Mayor got into the spirit of the annual day of good deeds by attending a special tea party thrown by YN volunteers at the Kennedy Leigh Family Centre in Hendon for members of the Unity recreational group for children and young people with disabilities.
Numerous other Mitzvah Day activities were held across Norwood, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities and children and families in need. During a busy morning at the Kennedy Leigh Centre, members of the Edgware Reform Synagogue helped to paint the 2011 Mitzvah Day mural and gave the Norwood Nursery a spring clean. Volunteers also helped to paint the nursery’s fence, while a group from the Bnei Akiva youth movement wrapped presents donated by Norwood staff, which will be distributed among families supported by Norwood and Barnardo’s. Elsewhere, pupils from Norwood’s Binoh specialist education and therapy service joined other volunteers to make cards and Chanukah gifts which will be sent to Norwood residents, as well as people supported by cancer charity Chai.
Meanwhile, a group of Barnet councillors joined residents and staff at a Norwood home in Hendon to paint the entrance hall and dining room. Also, members of Belmont Synagogue led music, singing and arts and crafts sessions at a Norwood residential home in Stanmore.
The following activities also took place:
- Residents at a Norwood home in Hendon were joined by volunteers from Hendon Synagogue to make Chanukah cards and candle holders for other Norwood services users.
- Staff at Norwood’s head office in Stanmore, plus those at its family centres in Hendon, Hackney and Redbridge, collected cards to be recycled and sold in aid of the North London Hospice. Head office staff also collected unused cosmetics in aid of Norwood.
- Volunteers at Norwood’s charity shop in Barkingside organised a sewing circle to recycle donated clothing into vintage wear.
- An afternoon of singing and music based around the songs of Ella Fitzgerald was held at a Norwood home in Stanmore, led by volunteer Malcolm Shorrick.
- Families who use the Norwood Nursery and Family Centre in Hendon collected winter clothes for good causes, including an Ukranian orphanage, Tikva Odessa.
- At the Somers Family centre in Hackney, staff and volunteers were busy in the centre’s garden, planting spring bulbs and winter vegetables and maintaining existing plant boxes.
- Volunteers from Kingston’s United, Reform and Liberal synagogues helped to plant more than 1,200 bulbs amongst other gardening activities at Ravenswood residential community in Berkshire.
Elaine Kerr, Chief Executive of Norwood, said: Elaine Kerr, Chief Executive of Norwood, said: “Mitzvah Day is about giving your time and we are extremely grateful to all those people who volunteered theirs for Norwood this year. It’s amazing what a difference we can make to someone else by donating just a few hours and I would encourage everyone to make a regular part of their lives. Not only would you get a real buzz from it, but you’d also be helping us to transform the lives of thousands of people each year.”
