var statusmap = { 0: "available", 1: "checkedout", 2: "unavailable" } Template.chromebook.helpers({ status_class: function() { return statusmap[this.status]; }, time_ago: function() { if (this.last_checkout === null) { return ""; } else { return moment(this.last_checkout).fromNow(); } } }); Template.chromebook.events({ 'click .available': function() { Chromebooks.update(this._id, {$set: {status: 1}}); Chromebooks.update(this._id, {$set: {last_checkout: new Date()}}); }, 'click .checkedout': function() { Chromebooks.update(this._id, {$set: {status: 0}}); Chromebooks.update(this._id, {$set: {last_checkout: null}}); } });