Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette Mitzvah Day volunteers, from left, Jane Treherne-Thomas, Susan Henderson, Fran Guthery, Susan Clancy, Mary Ellen Leigh and Pinky Lebovitz repot orchids at the Drew Mathieson Center of Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh's Manchester neighborhood yesterday.

By Lynda Guydon Taylor
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette When one of the sunniest Sundays in a month of Sabbaths arrived yesterday, members of Rodef Shalom Congregation and Calvary Episcopal Church worked together inside, repotting orchids for Bidwell Training Center on the North Side.

The two congregations participated in the daylong project as part of the third annual interfaith Mitzvah Day in which they volunteered their time and efforts to about 20 nonprofit community agencies citywide.

Other beneficiaries included Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland and the Salvation Army.

In addition to helping nonprofit organizations, participants viewed the day as an opportunity for Christians and Jews to work side by side.

Mitzvah refers to God's commandment to do good deeds, said Roxanne Mendelson, a Rodef Shalom member whose hands were covered with rubber gloves.

In a room next to the greenhouses at Drew Mathieson Center, where orchids and other flowers are grown, a dozen congregants gently lifted orchids from 4-inch pots, loosened the crowded roots and placed them in 5-inch containers.

An hour into the job, scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., volunteers had repotted about 250 orchids, said Rachel Kudrick, greenhouse technician. She expected volunteers to repot about 500 by the end of the allotted time.

"This is fantastic," Ms. Kudrick said. "For me to do about 250 orchids would take me five hours."

At that, she'd have to work in repotting among her other chores. The help from volunteers freed her for other jobs such as educational training and plant maintenance. She is one of eight staff members at Mathieson.

"Once [the orchids] spike in flower, then we can send them out the door," she said, referring to their sale to retailers such as Giant Eagle, Whole Foods and florists.

"I think it's [Mitzvah Day] a really great thing because people can do a number of things," said Rose Strickland, whose husband Bill Strickland founded Bidwell Training Center and Manchester Craftsmen's Guild. The Stricklands are members of Calvary Episcopal.

"Everybody speaks very warmly about it [Mitzvah Day] with a great deal of satisfaction," Ms. Mendelson said.

Sitting at a potting table, Calvary congregant Dick Stadler, who participated with his wife, Mimi, said, "We have our own garden so we're happy with doing this kind of thing, and I thought I might learn something."

"As part of the interfaith activity, the Rev. Harold T. Lewis, Calvary Episcopal rector, spoke April 13 at Rodef Shalom's Friday service, and Rabbi Aaron Bisno did a turn yesterday at Calvary's service.

Mitzvah Day also teaches children about the good of giving. A breakfast at Calvary was followed by Mitzvah Mall at Rodef Shalom at which children could investigate where they might like to volunteer. Then children and families were treated to a pizza lunch at Rodef Shalom. The day closed with a 4:30 p.m. wine and cheese reception at Rodef Shalom.