Our Friends & Neighbors: Community & Interfaith Partnerships
Congregation Shaare Emeth is fortunate to have many friends and neighbors – organizations we work with in a variety of capacities. Whether we’re planning events and programs together, providing financial or volunteer support, or receiving support, we’re grateful for each of these partnerships!
Intertwine Interfaith Initiative
Intertwine is the name of the collaborative project between Parkway United Church of Christ (PUCC), Turkish American Society of Missouri (TASOM), and Congregation Shaare Emeth. Since its inception in 2016, we have done a number of different programs together including Ramadan Iftar dinners, Tu B’Shevat Seders, and cooking classes. During the pandemic, we offered a number of gatherings on Zoom to share in music, prayer, and laughter.
One of our most rewarding combined initiatives was sponsoring an Afghan refugee family together – you can read more about our Welcome Circle here.
Oak Hill Elementary School
Location: 4300 Morgan Ford Road, St. Louis 63116
Oak Hill Co-Chairs: Sue Picus and Dana Weinstein
Shaare Emeth has been the faith partner with Oak Hill School in south city for over 10 years. Our congregation has provided school supplies, teacher appreciation gifts and events, attendance prizes, etc. Each year, we collect holiday gifts for the neediest families. Watch Shaare Mail for requests from the school.
During the school year, we typically have three volunteer opportunities:
- Tutoring individuals or small groups of English learners. Contact Debbie Bram to get started on the approval process.
- Help in the Library. Contact Sue Picus for more information
- Food Pantry weekly, mornings stocking shelves or afternoons filling orders. No background checks or long-term commitment. Sign-up is available for days and times that work for you. Contact Sue Picus for more information.
Peter & Paul Community Services
Address: 2612 Wyoming Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Peter & Paul Co-Chairs: Jennifer & Ted Houser
Peter & Paul’s Emergency Shelter is a year-round, 24-hour shelter for homeless single adult men. The shelter provides beds, meals, showers, laundry, lockers, and a safe, caring alternative to living on the street. The shelter has been housing people since 1981 when it was started by concerned community members after a man froze to death nearby.
The shelter provides beds for 100 men per night, three meals a day, seven days a week, case management, support groups, and occupational therapy.
Shaare Emeth provides and serves dinner to the men at the Peter & Paul Emergency Shelter every other month. We need volunteers to make parts of the meal to be dropped off at Shaare Emeth, and a few volunteers to drive the food to the shelter, warm it up, and serve dinner. Past volunteers have commented on how wonderful an experience it is to be amongst the recipients who are so grateful.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Houser or Ted Houser.
Room at the Inn
Address: 3415 Bridgeland Dr. Bridgeton, MO, 63044
Temporary Location during Renovation is: Room at the Inn – Drury House, 2725 Mulanphy Lane, Florissant, MO 63031
Room at the Inn Chair: Jennifer Rosenthal
Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence, Room at the Inn provides emergency shelter and a stabilizing support system to local women and families in need via the collaborative effort of our dedicated staff, interfaith congregations, and other organizations throughout the St. Louis region.
Shaare Emeth provides dinner for the residents at Room at the Inn on the first Monday of every month. We are always in need of volunteers to donate parts of the meal and a volunteer to pick up the food from Shaare Emeth and drop it off at Room at the Inn.
To get involved, please contact Jennifer Rosenthal.
International Institute of St. Louis
Current volunteer opportunities can be found here.
