Hundreds of community members showed true festive spirit by volunteering over the holiday period.

Jewish Volunteering Network director Leonie Lewis said they had their busiest year matching volunteers both young and old up to worthy causes.

The Green family, who were matched up with Lambeth-based charity People Care At Christmas, helped out by providing lunch for 350 elderly people.

Nicola and Ray Green said volunteering on December 25 was the best way a Jewish family could spend their time.
Mr Green said: “It was a full-on day, arriving at 9am and we finished around 7pm. We set up the hall, laid tables, hung up decorations, prepared the kitchen for the food, welcomed guests and showed them to their seats.”

His 19-year-old daughter, Jemma, said it was the second year the family of six had volunteered through JVN.

“Since Christmas is not our holiday, it is so lovely to help make it special for people. All the volunteers worked together to put on a great lunch for elderly people and doing it with my family was a lot of fun.
“To me, as a Jew, it seems a special and more fulfilling way to spend the day.”

Her brother Maxim, 17, agreed: “I found it very rewarding to see the joy on people’s faces who would otherwise have spent the day on their own.”

In north London, 12 volunteers cooked and served dinner at JW3 for members of the local community who had nowhere to go on Christmas Day.

Philip Ross, 66, helped serve food for guests. “It was a great experience, and a good chance to meet new people. It was even more important to help those who were alone.”

Yechezkel Mills, 13, used his magician’s skills to entertain guests while they ate. “I did some tricks. People need a good laugh and what better way to do it than with magic?”

Volunteers from the charity Tikun helped to maintain essential services, allowing regular staff to take time off.

Over 340 people registered to provide transport for emergency service workers and to help out at Norwood, Jami and Jewish Care facilities.

As part of Together in Barnet, a winter night shelter project run by a partnership of churches and shuls opened its doors to the homeless for four days from Christmas Eve. They provided three meals a day and overnight shelter for 17 people.

More than 70 volunteers from North Western Reform, New North London, Finchley Progressive, Sha’arei Tsedek, Barnet United and Finchley Reform provided food, entertainment and a Christmas tree for guests.