Home > Living > Jewish Festival & Events > Mitzvah Day
PRESENTED BY:
Join us on Friday December 25 for Mitzvah Day, Jewish for Goodβs annual day of service.
Choose from more than 25 volunteer projects for individuals and families: beautify local parks, make no-sew fleece blankets, cook breakfast at a shelter, visit with seniors, and plenty more. Want to spend the day outdoors? Rather cook and bake in your own kitchen? Thereβs a project for you.
Canβt make it in person on December 25? Our at-home (asynchronous) projects let you take part on your own schedule.
Turn your day off into a day on, doing good for our community.
Pre-registration is required. Volunteer sign-up opens Sunday November 8 and closes Sunday December 20. Some projects fill up quickly!
Before registering, see the project list below. Note the different times, age minimums and costs.
Enter the total number of people in your family or group, and list their names and kidsβ ages in the comment box. You donβt need a SignUp Genius account.
Click the button above to:
Make a tax-deductible donation, or add a Mitzvah Maker or Mitzvah Maven gift when you sign up (see below). Most projects have supply costs, which your donations make possible.
Order a T-shirt by Thursday December 3. Shirts are $20, short-sleeve, with our 2026 design for adults on royal purple shirts or the βIβm a Mensch on Mitzvah Dayβ kidsβ tee in navy. Pick up on Wednesday December 23, Thursday December 24 or Friday December 25.
All proceeds from T-shirt sales directly support Mitzvah Day project costs.
Give for GOOD
$18 per person / $36 per family
Suggested volunteer donation Β· added when you sign up
Your gift helps cover the supplies and materials that make Mitzvah Day possible, empowering volunteers to turn their day off into a day of doing good.
$180 | Mitzvah Maker
Your gift helps bring Mitzvah Day to life, supporting the supplies and needs that power more than 25 service projects and 500+ volunteers to make a meaningful difference throughout our community.
$500 | Mitzvah Maven
Your gift underwrites the materials and support for an entire Mitzvah Day project β crafting blankets for children in need, preparing meals for neighbors, refreshing community spaces, or painting vibrant PRIDE crosswalks. One gift, one hands-on project, lasting impact.
Add your gift when you sign up for your project. Gifts of any amount help, and every Mitzvah Maker and Maven will be thanked by name in our Mitzvah Day recap.
New to volunteering at Jewish for Good?
Drop in to our orientation for new volunteers on Monday December 14 at 2pm here at Jewish for Good.
Learn about this yearβs Mitzvah Day projects, ask questions, and find the one that fits you. No RSVP needed.
2026 PROJECT LIST
Many projects carry a suggested donation of $18 per person or $36 per family.
In Hebrew, the word chai (βlifeβ) has a numerical value of 18, which makes 18 and its multiples traditional amounts for giving.
| 2026 Projects | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GET OUTSIDE | |||||
| Project Name | Location | Project Time | Project Description | Volunteer Ages | Cost |
| Crosswalk painting | Jewish community campus | 1:00-2:00pm | Retouch PRIDE cross walks on the Jewish Community Campus | 6+, note: spray paint exposure and parking lot setting | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Durham Parks and Rec | Durham Parks TBD | 10-11:00am | Beautify local parks and public areas (2 park locations) | All ages - great for kids | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Threshold | South Durham | 10-11:30am | Do gardening and grounds project at a clubhouse for adults with mental illness. | Ages 8+ | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Tree Planting with Durham County Sustainability Office and Keep Durham Beautiful | Durham location TBD | 2-3:30pm | Plant and mulch new trees. | Ages 12+ | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Beautify Jewish Campus | Jewish community campus | 10-11:30am | Work on the Jewish for Good Youth and Family Hub garden and landscaping | Ages 10+ | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| COOK AND BAKE | |||||
| Project Name | Location | Project Time | Project Description | Volunteer Ages | Cost |
| Durham Rescue Mission | East Durham | 7:30-10am | Make and serve breakfast for 300 shelter residents. Food can be cooked on site or cooked at home and brought in. | Age 10+ | Cost of ingredients for dishes, $50-$100 |
| First responders | At your local police or fire station | Anytime | Deliver a home cooked dessert to on-duty firefighters or police officers at your local station. | All ages | Cost of ingredients for dishes, $20-$30 |
| Families Moving Forward | Jewish community campus | 10-11am | Bake or buy sweet treats at home, meet at the J to assemble cookie trays and make cards for residents of the family shelter. | Ages 6+ | Cost of ingredients for dishes, $20-$30 |
| Ronald McDonald House Durham | Durham, near Duke | 8-11am | Cook and serve brunch for 60 family members of sick children. You must cook on site or bring sealed store-bought items, nothing home cooked. | Age 13+ | Cost of ingredients for dishes, $50-$100 |
| Soup Making | At home | Anytime | Put together dry soup mixes for clients at Urban Ministries' and Jewish for Good's food pantries. | All ages - great for kids | Cost of supplies, $75-$150 |
| Urban Ministries | Downtown Durham | 7-9am | Cook and serve breakfast to 150-200 guests at the shelter. Food can be cooked on site or cooked at home and brought in. | Age 12+ | Cost of ingredients for dishes, $50-$100 |
| SERVING VULNERABLE PEOPLE | |||||
| Project Name | Location | Project Time | Project Description | Volunteer Ages | Cost |
| Caring House | Central Durham | 10-11:30am | Deep clean and organize house for patients at Duke Cancer hospital, bring treats to leave for residents. This project is designated for people in the Friends for Good program for disabilities and their families and friends. | Ages 10+ | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| NC Diaper Bank | Jewish community campus | 10-11:30am | Repackage diapers from diaper drive for families in need. | All ages | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Carol Woods | Northern Chapel Hill | 2:30-3:30pm | Visit and carol with residents. | All ages - great for kids | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Brookdale Meadowmont | Western Chapel Hill | 10-11:30am | Visit and carol with residents. | All ages - great for kids | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Note in the Pocket | Jewish community campus | 10-11:30am | Sort and organize donated clothing that goes to families in need. | Age 13+ | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Pettigrew Nursing Home | Central Durham | 10:30am-noon | Visit and carol with residents. | All ages - great for kids | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| CARING FOR ANIMALS | |||||
| Project Name | Location | Project Time | Project Description | Volunteer Ages | Cost |
| Animal Protection Society | Central Durham | 10am-noon | Walk dogs and tidy dog walking area. | Ages 16+ | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Toys For Dogs | Jewish community campus | 10-11:30am | Make fleece dog toys to be delivered to local animal shelters. | All ages - great for kids | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| MAKE THINGS FOR OTHERS | |||||
| Project Name | Location | Project Time | Project Description | Volunteer Ages | Cost |
| Blanket Durham/Linus project | Jewish community campus | 10-11am | Make no-sew fleece blankets to be delivered to Project Linus. | Ages 6+ | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Sibling Activty kits | At home | anytime | Make activity kits for siblings of hospitalized children through Ronald McDonald House. | All ages - great for kids | Cost of materials, $25-$75 |
| Meals on Wheels placemats | Jewish community campus | 10-11am | Make placements to be delivered with hot meals to Meals on Wheels participants. | All ages - great for kids | Cost of materials, $25-$50 |
| Card Making | Jewish community campus | 10-11am | Make winter greeting cards for seniors in nursing homes and assisted livings. | All ages | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Habitat for Humanity | Jewish community campus | 10-11am | Assemble Welcome Baskets for new Habitat participants. | All ages | Costs of materials, $50-$75 |
| Israel Center Letters to Lone Soldiers - AT HOME | At home | anytime | Write letters or make cards for lone soldiers serving in the IDF. | All ages | Cost of letter/card supplies, $5-$15 |
| Israel Center Letters to Lone Soldiers - AT THE J | Jewish community campus | 10-11am | Write letters or make cards for lone soldiers serving in the IDF. | All ages | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
| Kindness kits | At home | Anytime | Put together kindness kits to keep in your car and share with people in need you see at intersections. | All ages - great for kids | Cost of supplies, $25-$50+ |
| PJ Library Mini Mitzvah Zone | Jewish community campus | 10-11:30am | Do a variety of fun, kid-friendly mitzvah projects designed to teach about Jewish values. | Families with kids 2-8 | Suggested donation $18 per person/$36 per family |
FAQs
-
Our community has come together for the past 19 years for a community-wide day of service. Itβs a chance for people who are off work and school to do something meaningful with their time off that reflects the Jewish values of service and tzedakah.
Additionally, we are able to meet the needs of many of our partner organizations through volunteerism and donations of much-needed items.
-
With 30 to choose from, there are projects that fit any interest! Look over the list and make sure the time, age minimums, and costs all suit your needs.
Believe it or not, we sometimes have more volunteers than volunteer opportunities, so please only sign up for one in-person project.
-
This means you can do it on your own, any time that works for you.
In mid-December, you will get an email with detailed project instructions β including supplies, step-by-step directions, additional ideas if you are doing your project with kids, and information on how to deliver your completed project.
Some people do this on December 25, others do it in the days before Mitzvah Day. Some do it alone, others with friends, family, or neighbors.
-
Many projects have limited space and supplies and to make it a good experience for those who pre-registered, so we ask you to pick another option
-
The majority of our projects will be full when project registration closes on December 21, so we strongly recommend pre-registering. There may be a few limited options for walk-in volunteers.
-
Many projects ask volunteers to purchase supplies directly. Those that do not, there is a $20 per person suggested donation, in honor of our 20th Mitzvah Day. These donations defray the costs of project supplies we purchase and other program expenses. These donations are appreciated but optional - if you are not able to donate, your volunteer time is still valued!
-
Each outdoor project may have its own plan for inclement weather, which will be communicated by your Project Team Leader, but, in general, projects will continue as normal even in cold or rainy weather.
If there is a safety issue and the project cannot happen, your Project Team Leader will let you know if there is a make up date.
-
Great! Each in-person project has a Project Team Leader coordinating the details. They will email you in mid-December with details of where to go, what to bring or wear, inclement weather plans, etc.
In the meantime, please consider buying a shirt or making a donation to help cover the costs of this meaningful event!
More Questions?
Contact Madeline at mseltman@jewishforgood.org or 919-354-4938.
MITZVAH DAY IS PRESENTED BY