Template.notifications.helpers({ notifications: function () { return Notifications.find({ userId: Meteor.userId(), read: false }); }, notificationCount: function () { return Notifications.find({ userId: Meteor.userId(), read: false }).count(); } }); Template.notificationItem.helpers({ notificationPostPath: function () { return Router.routes.postPage.path({ _id: this.postId }); } }); Template.notificationItem.events({ 'click a': function () { // Here, "this" is a Notification document.. Notifications.update(this._id, { $set : { read: true }}); } });