Societies and community club together for local homeless charity
Release Date 06 December 2011
The University of Reading's Jewish and Sikh societies with the help of the local community have made a real difference to the homeless in the run-up to Christmas.
Volunteers from both groups and the University's Student Union (RUSU) joined forces to ask Sainsbury's shoppers to buy an extra item for the charity Launchpad. The generosity of Reading shoppers was evident from the two trolleys full of food items that were kindly donated.
The idea stemmed from the University's first-ever Mitzvah Day on 20 November. Every year thousands of people around the world celebrate Mitzvah Day, a Jewish led day of social action, by taking part in hands on projects, without fundraising, to support charities and build stronger communities.
Miriam Katz, Charity Coordinator of Reading Jewish Society, said: "The range of volunteers showed how our Mitzvah Day brought people together to make a difference in a fun and exciting way. It also allowed the Jewish and Sikh Societies, along with members of Reading Hebrew Congregation, to build stronger links with one another. We look forward to running many more events with them and other local charities."