Caring Community

Congregation Shaare Emeth’s

Chesed/Caring Committee

Caring for Our Community

Are You In Need of a Helping Hand?

We’re here for you. Here are a few of the things our team of 200+ Chesed volunteers can help with. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Ask for a Shiva Sitter: House Sitting

Do you need someone to stay at your home during the funeral for safety or to receive deliveries? We will sit at your house until you return from the funeral. Please note that we are unable to set up the meal, just receive the food and other deliveries. We will leave when you return home from the funeral.

Staff Contact:
Stacy Jespersen

Ask for After Shiva Food Pick-Up

Do you need someone to come to your home to pick up the extra food from shiva and deliver to Room at the Inn? We will work with you on a time to pick up wrapped food that you no longer need.

Staff Contact:
Stacy Jespersen

Ask for a Ride

Do you need a ride for a medical appointment? Do you need a ride for services at Temple or a program? A minimum of 3 days’ notice is preferred to find a volunteer. In special circumstances, volunteers can provide rides on a short-term basis.

Staff Contact:
Debbie Bram

Ask for a Meal

Are you or your family in need of a meal to ease the burden of an illness or situation? Meals may be home-cooked, store-bought, or from a restaurant. Dietary restrictions will be honored.

Staff Contact:
Debbie Bram

Ask for a Call or Visit

Are you feeling isolated or alone? Are you having difficulty getting to Temple or would like a visit from one of our volunteers? Would you like a call from one of our volunteers?

Staff Contact:
Stacy Jespersen

Be a Chesed Volunteer

Extend a helping hand by volunteering in partnership with our clergy and staff to support our members.

We are committed to being a welcoming and caring community for our members both in times of joy and need. Caring and loving kindness are so important that the Torah begins and ends with these acts. Our Congregation has a variety of committees that directly address mental health, mourning, sickness, and loneliness, as well as times of joy.Ā Sign Up For Our Caring Committee

In Times of Loss


Shiva Committee

Volunteers provide comfort to the family experiencing a loss through phone calls, a visit, and a booklet of prayers and poems.

Volunteer Chair:Ā 
Linda Sandmel

Shiva Sitters:
House Sitting

Volunteers will stay at the home during the funeral for safety purposes and to receive deliveries. This allows relatives or friends to attend the funeral.

Volunteer Chairs:
Sue Koritz & Nancy Taxman

After Shiva
Food Pick-Up

Volunteers will pick up shiva food from membersā€™ homes and deliver it to a shelter. Shelter information will be given to volunteers.

Volunteer Chairs:
Sue Koritz & Nancy Taxman

In Times of Need

Get Well Cards

Volunteers will send cards to congregants who are hospitalized or are recuperating at home.

Volunteer Chairs:Ā 
Linda Levin
Sheri Seigel

Caring Rides

Volunteers will provide transportation for our members to medical appointments, services, and programs.

Volunteer Chairs:
Carole Goldstein & Barbara Furman
Contact Debbie Bram

Delightful Dinners

Bring healing and care with a meal to a member or memberā€™s family in need of this temporary support.

Volunteer Chairs:
Cindy Heymann
Marcene Menendez

In Times of Joy

Card Writing

Send cards to our members for significant birthdays and anniversaries.

Volunteer Chairs:
Barbara Victor & Marsha Rothman
Contact Stacy Jespersen

Gifts for Newborn Babies

Deliver gifts from Congregation Shaare Emeth to families with newborn or newly adopted babies.

Volunteer Chair:Ā 
Cheri Winchell

Holiday Bags

Fill and deliver holiday bags for our homebound and senior living facility members.

Volunteer Chair:
Barb Kramer

Schmooze With Seniors

Congregants will arrange a few special visits to senior living facilities to visit with our seniors while enjoying a special snack.

Volunteer Chairs:
Lisa Gubernik
Bonnie Myers

Strengthening Our Bonds

Caring Calls and Visits

Volunteers will make calls to our members who are feeling isolated or just want someone to talk to/someone to just visit.

Volunteer Chairs:
Jenn Sagett
Darcy Glidewell

Ready to Get Involved? Join Our Caring Committee

Ā© 2025 All rights reserved

Made with ā¤ with Elementorā€‹

ABOUT

Madeleine Elkins & Harvey Wallace

2025 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Madeleine and Harvey have been cherished members of Congregation Shaare Emeth since 1996. Shortly after their wedding, they began ā€œshul shoppingā€ and quickly found a spiritual home at Shaare Emethā€”a community whose warmth and values resonated deeply with them. Since then, they have become pillars of both the congregation and the broader St. Louis community.

Madeleine Elkins built a distinguished 45-year career in the corporate world, with leadership roles in medical supply distribution and law firm financial management. Alongside her professional accomplishments, Madeleine has always made time for meaningful volunteer work. She served on the board of the St. Louis Breast Cancer Coalition and was part of the organizing committee for the JCC Senior Olympics in its early years. Her dedication to Jewish community life is evident in her service on various committees for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, including co-chairing the 2017 Lā€™Chaim Event. In 2022, she and Harvey co-chaired the JCCā€™s Jā€™la gala, raising vital funds for scholarships. At Shaare Emeth, Madeleine is a compassionate member of the Caring Committee, and in 2025, she joined the board of the American Jewish Committee, continuing her lifelong commitment to advocacy and service.

Harvey Wallace is a trailblazer in the accounting world and a passionate community leader. In 1973, he co-founded Brown Smith Wallace, a firm that grew to become the 77th largest CPA firm in the United States, with 340 team members at the time of its 2021 merger with Armanino LLP. He now brings his expertise to Private Fiduciary Solutions. Harveyā€™s professional success is matched by his extraordinary record of community service. He has held leadership roles on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation of St. Louis (where he served as Chairman from 2015 to 2017), Jewish Family Services, The Magic House (Chairman, 2013ā€“2014), Wyman Center, and the Chancellorā€™s Council at the University of Missouriā€“St. Louis. His civic engagement also includes board service with the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the St. Louis Community Foundation, and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center. Harvey has been a dedicated member of the St. Louis Menā€™s Group Against Cancer and was honored with the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants Outstanding Public Service Award.

Madeleine and Harvey are blessed with two sons and daughters-in-law, Brad & Elizabeth Wallace and David & Melissa Wallace, and four grandchildren Emma (23), Katie (19), Miriam (13), and Aaron (11).

Together, Madeleine and Harvey exemplify the spirit of generosity, leadership, and compassion. Their decades of service have touched countless lives and strengthened the fabric of our community. We are proud to honor them with the 2025 Harris Frank Community Service Award.