More than 500 people turned out yesterday at 19 sites throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area for the annual “Good Deeds Day” event.
The Baltimore area coordination of the international effort was overseen by Jewish Volunteer Connection, the volunteer branch of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. Jmore was a co-sponsor of the event, along with Brown Advisory, an independent investment management firm.
“Good Deeds Day” in Howard County was coordinated by the Jewish Federation of Howard County. About 350 people came out to volunteer throughout the county.
“This is the most successful one yet,” said JVC Executive Director Ashley Pressman. “We’re so excited for all of the support, and we’re very thankful to everyone who came out to participate and help. It was a beautiful day.”
Volunteers cleaned up city parks and served meals to the elderly and at homeless shelters. There also were activities at the Park Heights Jewish Community Center and the Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital.
In addition, approximately 30 teenagers cleaned up trash and debris at the Hebrew Friendship Cemetery in East Baltimore.
“Good Deeds Day” got its start in Israel in 2007 under the auspices of the Ruach Tova organization. In addition to launching the day of volunteerism, Ruach Tova (which means “good spirit” in Hebrew) maintains a nationwide database of more than 5,000 organizations and 9,000 volunteer projects in Israel, enabling service organizations to access potential volunteers according to their preferences, skills and geographic locations.
Globally, “Good Deeds Day” drew 1.5 million volunteers in 75 countries in 2016.
Locally, the day is one of four major volunteerism events organized by JVC each year. The others are “Mitzvah Day” in December, September’s “Day to Unite” and an event timed to coincide with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
For information, visit jvcbaltimore.org.
Top Photo: Lutherville resident Jennifer Busse helps clean up Middle Branch Park with other “Good Deeds Day” volunteers. (Photo by Steve Ruark)
Second Photo: During Howard County’s “Good Deeds Day,” Bess Caplan (left) and Penina Schwartz help build a new nature playground at the Lubavitch Center of Howard County. (Photo by Ed Bunyan)
Third Photo: Daniel Catlett, 11, a member of Har Sinai Congregation in Owings Mills, picks up trash and debris at Hebrew Friendship Cemetery in East Baltimore. (Photo by Steve Ruark)
Bottom Photo: Sykesville resident Lisa Berman (left) and Marcia Berlin of the Village of Hickory Ridge hang up clothes at Charity’s Closet in Savage Mill as part of Good Deeds Day sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Howard County. (Photo by Ed Bunyan)