Redbridge residents are preparing to get hands-on in the local community today gardening, cleaning, entertaining and collecting donations for Mitzvah Day.

The Recorder is a media partner for the Jewish-led day of social action, which aims to use people’s time, not money, to make a difference in the community.

The action kicks off this morning, when Ilford North MP Lee Scott is visiting Ilford Jewish Primary School, in Carlton Road, Barkingside, to help with their toy collection for a children’s charity.

King Solomon High School, in Forest Road, Barkingside, is also holding “collectathons” for toys, and of warm winter woolies for World Jewish Relief.

This afternoon, the Recorder reporters are going to lend a helping hand at the Chigwell Riding Trust, which offers therapy and fun to disabled children.

The trust won a poll on our website asking where readers would like us to volunteer last month.

Mitzvah Day itself, on Sunday, is the busiest day of action with events planned across Redbridge.

Ilford South MP Mike Gapes is joining volunteers from care provider Norwood to collect items for Marie Curie Cancer Care at Sainsbury’s in Tanners Lane, Barkingside.

Mr Gapes will later be visiting The Dennis Centre, in Beehive Lane, Ilford, where volunteer youth leaders of different faiths are putting on parties for children with learning disabilities.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it. Mitzvah Day is part of showing that people do voluntary work and supporting people who need it in whatever way.”

Members of Clayhall Synagogue are using the day to continue the work they started on Mitzvah Day last year improving a sensory garden at adventure playground ELHAP in Woodford Bridge.

Wanstead and Woodford Synagogue volunteers are holding a coffee morning for elderly residents at Milne Court in South Woodford.

Everyone is invited to a fair being thrown at the Redbridge Jewish Community Centre in Woodford Bridge Road.

There will be gift bags and volunteers will be collecting hats, scarves, gloves, toiletries and toys for World Jewish Relief.

Ilford Synagogue and Chigwell Synagogue are collecting and wrapping for gifts for children and neighbours.

Mitzvah Day is in its eighth year and expects to attract 25,000 volunteers to support more than 800 projects across the country.