Young adults in the Jewish community have several opportunities to volunteer at Gateway 180 homeless shelter this summer as part of the Karen Solomon Young Adult Service Initiative.  From 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 15 volunteers will engage in various fix up and organizing projects at the shelter. From 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday Aug. 12, volunteers will make, serve and share a meal with the women and children residing in the shelter.   

“The clients of Gateway 180 are truly appreciative when volunteers are able to share a meal with them,” said Development Director Jenn Lyke. “In addition, volunteer groups that have been able to sit down with our residents over dinner have found this opportunity to be a very special one.”

Also in the works for the Solomon Initiative is the formation of a Solomon Initiative team to participate in a weekly bedtime story hour at the shelter.  Volunteers able to donate time on a weeknight (dates and amount of time flexible) to read to the children at the shelter are encouraged to join the team.  As soon as a child becomes homeless his literacy skills begin to decline, making regular exposure to books and reading essential to help reverse that trend.  

Jewish young adults have been participating in the Karen Solomon Young Adult Initiative since early April. The program is a project of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.  Co-sponsors of the program are the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, the Jewish Community Center of St. Louis and Next Dor STL. New volunteers are always welcome.   

For more information about the July, August or bedtime story hour programs and to register, go to www.nextdorstl.com/service.html or call 314-442-3894.