Mitzvah Day Collections in Edmonton for Operation Friendship

(AJNews) – Mitzvah Day International is an annual day of faith-based social action that takes place in November each year. It started in the United Kingdom in 2005, but has spread to many international partners, including Europe, North America, Israel, Australia, Brazil and Southern Africa. In 2012, the name of the organization changed from ‘Mitzvah Day’ to ‘Mitzvah Day International’ to reflect the growing participation of community groups outside the UK.

This year, National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC) Edmonton Section is organizing a Mitzvah Day project, together with the Jewish Senior Citizens’ Centre (known as JDIC). Items are being collected to help out an organization called Operation Friendship Seniors Society – a non-profit society that provides community-based preventative social services to the seniors of Edmonton’s inner city. They provide safe, affordable, non-institutional housing options for those aged 55 and over. They also have a Drop-In Centre called the McCauley Senior’s Drop-In Centre.

Items in need are new underwear for men and women, disposable razors, mitts, winter hats and toques.

“We are so happy to be partnering with the Jewish Senior Citizens’ Centre for this Mitzvah Day project,” says Jodi Zabludowski, volunteer President of NCJWC-Edmonton.

“Operation Friendship has important needs at this time of year, and we are happy to be supporting a program that helps seniors in the Edmonton inner city community.  We hope that the Jewish community will support this important project.”

The drop off location is at the Jewish Senior Citizen’s Centre (10052 – 117 Street) on Tuesdays between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm or 402 Ormsby Rd West in the west end.  The contact e-mails are:  ncjwc.edmonton@gmail.com or programmer@jdicseniors.ca.  The deadline for collecting items is Monday, November 22, 2021.