Armed with a sewing machine, compassion and her faith, Rita Gildea-Bryant has spent nine years making blankets for babies in need.
On Sunday, as part of an annual tradition, she led a small sewing group in Newton, many of whom had never created anything with a needle in their lives.
"The project I lead is for Shaare Zedek (Medical Center). It's the largest hospital in Jerusalem," she said. "Their maternity ward delivers between 10,000 and 13,000 babies a year. By contrast, Newton-Wellesley (Hospital) delivers about 3,000 per year."
Her project involves making blankets which are delivered by local eighth-graders each March during a three-week trip to Israel, she said. Social workers then distribute the blankets to needy families, she said.
Gildea-Bryant's sewing project is one of about 26 different charitable initiatives that take place during an annual event organized by the Newton-based Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston.
More than 650 students, parents, faculty, staff and grandparents associated with the school helped over 40 charities on Sunday. Most of the efforts took place at the school's two Newton campuses, while other projects occurred throughout Greater Boston.
Projects included fundraising for pediatric cancer research and donating hair to Locks of Love, a program that uses hair for wigs to be used by cancer patients.
The efforts were part of a Jewish tradition at the school where students perform mitzvot - or good deeds.
Parent Stephanie Maroun coordinated this year's events.
"Members of our community come together for a brief rally then we disperse. Everyone kind of heads off to their individual project," she said. "Each family works on a different project ... Some of them are longterm favorites, but also people give me ideas for new projects."
Gildea-Bryant said she became involved in the annual tradition nine years ago when her oldest son was in kindergarten.
"(Student officials) put out a call for people who could lead projects and I said I could sew, so that's how I got paired up with Shaare Zedek," she said.
Gildea-Bryant said parents Aviva Jezer and Judi Roth developed the idea to have an annual day of charity projects and 11 years ago they pitched it to school officials. The tradition continues today.
"Aviva's brother works to raise money for Shaare Zedek in the U.S.," she said."Through his contact with Shaare Zedek, he set up this project. Each year for the past nine years we make between 20 and 60 blankets."
While Gildea-Bryant created 16 blankets Sunday, other families worked to help the Jewish Family & Child Service organization in Waltham.
"We did two fantastic projects. One was we decorated tote bags for 36 Holocaust survivors living in the greater Waltham area," Maroun said.
She said another project has to do with Purim, a Jewish holiday.
"Purim is coming up and one of the things that's traditional in Purim is you're supposed to give a little goodie bag. There are supposed to be specific items that go in it," she said. "We created 175 of these to deliver to families."
Tana Goldberg, director of communications at the school, said that although the annual mitzvah day is of great importance, the idea behind it should remain consistent throughout the year.
"It's a phenomenal day. We really involve over 600 people," she said. "But one of the things I like to stress is it's not just one day, this is really a value that we have year-round, but this is one day that families can come together so that's what makes it really special."
