United in kindness: local Jewish organizations partner for Jim Irsay Acts of Kindness Day

Submitted

Three organizations from the local Jewish community are coming together to participate in the “Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness Day” which will take place on Aug. 5, 2026, to celebrate Carmel’s 50th anniversary as a city and to honor the memory of Jim Irsay.

Participants in the food/necessities collection for Popsie’s Pantry, Congregation Shaarey Tefilla and Congregation Beth Shalom along with ALO property group are combining efforts to help local kids start school strong in the fall by collecting much needed back-to-school items.

In Judaism, a Chesed Committee focuses on loving-kindness and community care, providing support during challenging times. This support can come in many forms. In Carmel, these services are coordinated primarily through local synagogues and the broader Jewish community network.

Congregation Shaarey Tefilla (CST) is a modern Conservative Jewish congregation that serves as a hub for local Jewish life. CST is partnering with Congregation Beth Shalom to collect essential school supplies for kids heading back to the classroom. Congregation Beth Shalom is an intimate Reform congregation in Carmel focusing on Jewish life and learning for the whole family. ALO Property Group offers a full spectrum of commercial real estate and residential services to tenants, landlords, developers, investors, buyers, and sellers. Their clients are both big and small. They are working as sponsors for this event, as well as providing a drop-off location.

All donations collected by these three entities will be directed to Popsie’s Pantry. Popsie’s Pantry was established to honor Anton (Popsie) Berkovits and Etta (Jacobson) Berkovits, survivors of a Russian labor camp during the Holocaust. It was set up by their family in response to an increase in requests for food support in the Jewish community in the early 2000s. This pantry is unlike others in that it is designed with special regard to people’s dignity in response to the way the Jewish were treated during the Holocaust.

Popsie’s Pantry delivered more than 3,000 bags of groceries to both Jewish and non-Jewish families in 2025 alone. Anton and Etta knew the harsh reality of not having enough food. They also had to rely on others to help them escape the labor camps. So, the couple spent their whole lives helping others and providing them with the resources they needed to survive.

You’re invited to join the Chesed Committee to help deliver many acts of kindness for kids in need. You can help by donating much-needed back-to-school items such as kid-friendly snacks/chips, pretzels, granola bars, fruit cups, etc., tissues, hand sanitizer or gift cards (for clothing and shoes).

Donations can be dropped off in the lobbies of CST and ALO. CST is located at 3085 W. 116th St., Carmel. ALO’s address is 9075 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. Items will be collected from July 15 to Aug. 4, and will be presented to Popsie’s Pantry on Aug. 5, the date of the 1976 Acts of Kindness event.

The Acts of Kindness event is a community-wide push organized by the Rotary Club of Carmel and the Kiwanis Club of Carmel to complete an incredible 1,976 acts of kindness on Aug. 5. The collaborative, community-wide initiative will feature multiple service projects across Carmel. Volunteers from Rotary, Kiwanis, other service organizations, local businesses and non-profits will complete 1,976 acts of kindness, honoring the memory of Jim Irsay.

This event is intended to inspire civic pride, expand community engagement, and leave a lasting, positive mark on the city of Carmel. The Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness Day has been approved by the Indianapolis Colts for Aug. 5, 2026.