Volunteer Opportunities

Jewish Volunteer Opportunities for Summer 2025

Give Your Time • Shaare Your Heart • Jewish Volunteering This Summer

Postcard Campaign:
No One Deserves to Go Hungry

Wednesday, June 18 and Tuesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at Shaare Emeth
Tzedek Committee

We are participating in a national postcard campaign with Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger to flood the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with messages underscoring the urgent need to protect essential programs that help our neighbors put food on the table. Each postcard written represents 1,000 people experiencing hunger.

Join us on either date to learn more about the campaign, write postcards, and make your voice heard. We’ll provide all supplies-instructions, postcards, and scripts.

Postcard Campaign Co-chairs: Marcene Menendez and Debby Price

If you have questions, please call Debby Price at 314-650-9605

The International Institute of St. Louis Needs Us!

Fridays, beginning June 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Immigration Advocacy & Action Committee

Four volunteers will go each Friday to assist with the food pantry and community bazaar. There is no long-term commitment required. Volunteers can also choose to carpool from Shaare Emeth if desired.

For questions, please contact Sue Picus.

Drivers Needed for Our Sudanese Ethiopian Family!

It is a busy summer for our family, and the two children need weekday transportation to and from camp. If you are able to drive these lovely, young people, please sign up!

Help Make Local Adventures Possible!

Our Incredible Sundanese/Ethiopian Family Would Love to Explore St. Louis With You

Help make local adventures possible by volunteering to give rides! Outings will be scheduled based on your availability, whether that’s during the week or on weekends. You’ll choose where to go, such as museums, parks, the zoo, or other fun spots. Please note that volunteers are responsible for their own transportation and any costs involved with the outing.

If you’re interested, contact Stefanie Greenberg, our Neighbor to Neighbor Social Coordinator, by e-mail or at 314-422-5773. She’ll help coordinate the details.

Home English-Language Tutor Needed!

Are you a trained IHELP (Immigrant Home English Learning Program) tutor, or are you interested in going through the program to become one?

We need a home English-language tutor for Fedwa Kershu (wife and mother in the Sudanese family whom Shaare Emeth is sponsoring), starting this summer or fall and continuing for at least a year.

If you are interested but have not gone through the training program, please contact Joelyn Levy by e-mail or at 314-550-6633, or Melissa Pomerantz by e-mail or at 314-560-6466.

No prior experience or education is required to be eligible for the iHelp training program. You can find more information here.

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ABOUT

Debbie & Mike Lefton

2024 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Debbie and Michael Lefton have been dedicated members of the Shaare Emeth community and the broader St. Louis Jewish community for many years, contributing their time and talents in numerous ways.

Debbie has been a member of Shaare Emeth since the 5th grade, attending Sunday School and confirmation. Debbie and Mike have been married for 27 years and became family members of Shaare Emeth in 1996. Their children Sydney, and Jacob, both attend Shirlee Green Preschool, celebrated their b’not mitzvah, and attended Shaare Emeth Camps. Debbie and Mike have been actively involved in various committees at Shaare Emeth throughout the years; Debbie serving as the President of the Shirlee Green Preschool and Mike serving on the Board of Trustees and the Operating Committee for 12 years including President of our congregation.

Their commitment to education and community service extends beyond Shaare Emeth. They are true examples of community service heroes. In 2019 the Lefton Family received the American Jewish Committee Netzach Award and in 2022, Debbie and Mike were honored with the JProStL Community Leader Partnership Award.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life Services, she worked as a Child Life Specialist at Wyler Children’s Hospital in Chicago and St. Louis Children’s Hospital for 12 years. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Services from Washington University.

At the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, Debbie has chaired several committees, including the Children’s Activity Center, the Camp Sabra Alumni Committee, and the Mission Task Force Committee. She has also co-chaired the Jewish Book Festival Women’s Event, the St. Louis Maccabi Games Closing Ceremonies and has served on the J Associates Board for 16 years, completing a term as President in 2022. Currently, Debbie serves as an Officer on the Executive Committee at the JCC and is Co-Chairing the Fox Building Capital Campaign. Debbie received the St. Louis Jewish Community Center Richard S. Weiss Past Presidents Award in 2018.

Debbie’s involvement in the St. Louis Jewish Federation includes serving on the Board of CAJE and Women’s Philanthropy and recently began an 8-year term on the National Jewish Federations Women’s Philanthropy Board. Debbie served on the Camp Rainbow Board of Directors and 28 years. Currently, Debbie is a board member of The St. Louis Jewish Light and The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Friends Board. Debbie received the MAC Women of Distinction honor in 2023.

Michael holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Michael began his career with Metal Exchange in 1984 and now serves as Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, Metal Exchange has grown into a global enterprise with a strong international presence, including offices in Zurich and Shanghai. The company’s diverse operations include manufacturing, marketing, trading, metal processing, distribution, and transportation of nonferrous metals.

Mike’s commitment to community service is evident through his current roles as Board President of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis and Regional President of the American Jewish Committee – St. Louis. Mike served as President of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer for seven years and is Immediate Past President. Mike received the Presidential Citation Award from Variety the Children’s Charity international in 2019.

Additionally, Mike currently serves on several boards, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, National Council of Jewish Women Advisory Council, Jewish Federation Professional Society Leadership Advisory Council, and Heat-Up/Cool Down St. Louis.

Debbie and Mike reside in St. Louis and are the proud parents of two adult children, Sydney 26, who lives in Tel Aviv, and Jacob 24, who resides in Cincinnati. The Lefton family are avid hockey fans, enjoy theatre, traveling and spending time in Colorado.

The Shaare Emeth community is honored to celebrate Debbie and Michael Lefton for their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to our community and beyond.