Jewish Federation does a mitzvah for the community, Feb. 12 will be day of good deeds for the Jewish community

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Jennifer McIntosh

EMC news - The community is coming together to do a series of good deeds thanks to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa's annual Mitzvah Day on Feb. 12.

Returning after a one-year hiatus, the day of good deeds will start at 9 a.m. at the Joseph and Rose Ages Family building at 21 Nadolny Sachs Priv.

Some of the good deeds this year include preparing milk bags to be crocheted into mats for hospitals in Haiti and making challah (egg bread) that will be frozen and donated to the Kosher Food Bank.

Rena Garshowitz, who is on the organizing committee, said eyeglasses would also be collected for people in Guyana, along with birthday kits for kids in low-income families. They will also make sandwiches for the homeless at the Ottawa Mission, give blood and participate in Locks of Love - which provides wigs for people who suffer from hair loss due to medical conditions.

Garshowitz said the event aims to make people "feel good by doing good."

"It's a real community-based initiative and I am proud to be a part of it," she said.

Aside from the events that will take place across the city, the whole week will include creating and packing kits to help youth better cope with stress and encouraging people to provide a swab for bone marrow transplants.

"We kind of hope it will be a kickoff for the Kindness Week done by the United Way," Garshowtiz said.

The first Mitzvah Day happened in the capital in 2006 and Garshowitz said it has grown in popularity over the years.

For more information and to register, visit www.jewishottawa.com.

jennifer.mcintosh@metroland.com