Template.notification_item.helpers({ nice_time: function(){ return moment(this.timestamp).fromNow(); }, properties: function(){ return this.properties; }, isNewComment: function(){ return this.event=="newComment"; }, isNewReply: function(){ return this.event=="newReply"; }, isMessage: function(){ return this.event=="message"; }, postHeadline: function(){ var post=Posts.findOne(this.postId); if(post) return post.headline; } }); Template.notification_item.events({ 'click .action-link': function(event, instance){ var notificationId=instance.data._id; Notifications.update( {_id: notificationId}, { $set:{ read: true } }, function(error, result){ if(error){ console.log(error); } } ); } });