On April 16 at 9 a.m., more than 60 families gathered at the Shaarai Shomayim Temple in downtown Lancaster for Mitzvah Day, an annual celebration of volunteerism that serves local nonprofit organizations by doing projects such as painting, packing and cooking food, cleaning parks, and more. A short service was held before the nearly 150 volunteers set out to fulfill the Jewish commandment of doing mitzvahs - good deeds - in the form of community services.

Bob Houghton, Sh'arim administrator with congregation Shaarai Shomayim, said that the tradition began in the mid-1990s when Rabbi Jack Paskoff suggested the event. "For the most part, many of those organizations have longstanding relationships with us not just on Mitzvah Day," said Houghton, who noted that during a five-day summer camp for children, older participants take part in community service work on three days.

Many of the projects the group undertook called for outside work. Although Houghton expressed concern about the weather prior to Mitzvah Day, he noted that April 16 was beautiful and that outside activities for Clare House, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake's Stream Project, and Interfaith Power and Light were completed successfully. Up to 20 volunteers cleaned up Rader Park on Marietta Avenue. A second similar project involved cleaning winter trash from rain gardens on West James Street. Rain gardens collect rainwater and begin to filter out pollutants while providing a home for wildlife. "(Issues with) clean water and the environment can be overwhelming," noted Houghton. "But if you can do this little bit, it makes a difference."

Another emphasis is on making and packing food. Family-style meals are created for some organizations, while others, such as the local domestic violence shelter, receive individually packed meals. Houghton mentioned that the shelter is near to the hearts of participants. "If you ask, 'Which one do we feel for the most?' it's them," shared Houghton, who said the shelter especially struggled during the pandemic when many nonprofits were forgotten.

Families with young children were assigned a project supporting the St. Anne Church brown bag lunch giveaway. "We get all the supplies and package up 100 lunches," said Houghton, who explained that since the sandwiches included must be made at St. Anne Church, items for those are donated. "In a brown paper bag, we put everything but the sandwiches," said Houghton, who noted that the children decorate the paper lunch bags. "It's the shortest project," he added.

Creativity is also part of a project involving Ronald McDonald House in Hershey. During Mitzvah Day, volunteers baked brownies and made "thinking of you" cards to deliver to staff members and current residents at the house in Hershey, which provides a home away from home for families of children being treated at Penn State Health Children's Hospital.

During 2020, Mitzvah Day was not held due to COVID-19 restrictions, but in 2021, a virtual event was held. "People picked up supplies and did the (assigned) project," said Houghton.

More information about the congregation may be found at http://www.shaarai.org.