I am writing to urge all your readers, of any faith and of none, to consider giving just a few hours of their time this Sunday to support a local charity.

November 21 is Mitzvah Day, literally meaning good deed day. It is a day when Jews up and down the country will give a little bit of their time to help those less fortunate than themselves. This Mitzvah Day more than 15,000 volunteers will support the homeless, clean up a local park, repaint a local charity office, visit an old people’s home, collect food for those in need, or do one of 250 other good deed projects. At the New North London Synagogue volunteers will be taking part in a host of activities including raking, hay-making and planting bulbs at Long Lane Pastures which is being restored to benefit wildlife and the local community.

They will also be asking shoppers at Waitrose, North Finchley, to put one extra item in their basket to donate to Homeless Action Barnet and the Drop-In centre for Asylum Seekers.

Children will be doing lots of activities including making hats for children at Great Ormond Street Hospital and visiting Candle Court care home.

Mitzvah Day enjoys the support not just of the whole Jewish community, but also Christian, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim groups who are also involved in various projects across the country.

So whatever their faith, in these difficult times, I hope Times Series readers will join us to give just a little of their time to help those less fortunate than themselves.

Claire Reynolds
Mitzvah Day co-ordinator
New North London Synagogue,
East End Road, Finchley