She has been with the federal government for 27 years. She got the job after volunteering at the home office for nearly five years in a variety of tasks, many of them thankless. Some of her activities include serving the Dee Cee Eyes, the Washington, D.C. deaf monthly newsletter for fifteen years, the last seven as assistant editor. With the Washington Society of Jewish Deaf, she spent ten years in a variety of offices. Other organizations she has helped out over the years is National Congress of Jewish Deaf, the Gallaudet University archives, her old Gallaudet sorority, the Gallaudet alumni association, the Maryland Association of the Deaf, etc.
Every successful person owes a great deal of gratitude to mentors that helped guide the way.
In Helena's case she is indebted to Dave and Polly Peikoff. They encouraged me to volunteer in different groups. Alaska was the site of her most unusual experience. A friend, Al Berke, of Alaska, is a member of a reform synagogue in Anchorage. She has flown to Alaska twice to help him serve meals at a shelter for homeless people.