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

Tzedek Committee

NEW! Pick up Packets at Congregation Shaare Emeth to Write at Home.

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 for the urgency to protect basic needs programs that help our neighbors put food on the table. Each postcard written represents 1,000 people experiencing hunger.

Envelopes with instructions and all supplies are now available for pick-up from the front office. Please return the envelopes completed by August 10th. We are mailing them back to Mazon.

Postcard Campaign Co-Chairs: Marcene Menendez and Debby Price

For questions, contact Debbie Bram.

The International Institute of St. Louis Needs Us!

Fridays 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.

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 “shul shopping” and quickly found a spiritual home at Shaare Emeth—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 L’Chaim Event. In 2022, she and Harvey co-chaired the JCC’s J’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. Harvey’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, 2013–2014), Wyman Center, and the Chancellor’s Council at the University of Missouri–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 Men’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.