Volunteers encouraged shoppers to make a donation to the homeless as part of Mitzvah Day yesterday.

More than 50 members of Golders Green Synagogue gave a few hours of their time to take part in the good deed day.

They collected food and toiletries outside Sainsbury’s Yarden and Boots in Golders Green for Cricklewood Homeless Concern.

The group also knitted four blankets for World Jewish Relief charity, decorated part of the Marie Curie hospice in Hampstead, and collected warm winter clothing and blankets for families in Eastern Europe and old glasses for VisionAid in Africa.

Samantha Vaughan, coordinator of Mitzvah Day at Golders Green Synagogue, said: “It was fantastic that so many members of our community were willing to give their time to help make a difference to the wider community and worked so well together.

“I hope that our involvement in such worthwhile causes will continue throughout the year.”

Rimon Jewish Primary School also took part in the good deed day. Schoolchildren sang to residents at Sage Nursing Home, in Golders Green Road, while other pupils painted recycled wellington boots to use as plant pots for the school garden.