Latter-day Saints Help with Tornado Cleanup

In the spring of 2011, the southern and mid-western U.S. states suffered from a record-breaking rash of tornadoes.  On May 7, 2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored a massive volunteer project to help the people of Birmingham, Alabama, and Tennessee who were hit by many tornadoes. More than1,500 volunteers came from the greater Atlanta, Birmingham and other surrounding areas.  This is in addition to the mobilization of local Latter-day Saints who offered help in their own neighborhoods.

Organization for the wide-spread cleanup operation was from a “command post” established at a Mormon meetinghouse in Birmingham.  People needing help were represented by green dots on a large map of the area.  Local congregations found those in need by canvassing their own neighborhoods and passing information along.  This system is helped along by the existence of “Home Teachers” and “Visiting Teachers” in local congregations, called “Wards.”  Home Teachers are two men assigned to certain families in the neighborhood, and Visiting Teachers are two women assigned families to watch over.  They can pass information about emergencies up the line to bishops (who lead congregations), and then up to central leadership in the Church, which can then send help downward, if necessary.

Paul Norton was one who received help.  Though fortunate that all family members and pets survived, his home was left almost uninhabitable.  A team of 25 Mormon Helping Hands showed up to help.  Paul said he has never seen such a wonderful group people who just wanted to help and get nothing in return.

For more information about the official humanitarian efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visit the LDS Newsroom.

Mormons in North Carolina Help With Storm Cleanup

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pitched in to help with recovery efforts after deadly tornadoes hit the South. Members of this church are often referred to as Mormons, but generally prefer the initials LDS as a shortened version of their name, which more accurately describes who they are.

Mormons in Fayetteville, North Raleigh, and Holly Springs  left church services early on Sunday, April 17^th. They raced home, changed out of their Sunday best into work clothes, and set out to find people in need of help. Many wore the yellow vests that identified them as Mormon Helping Hands, a program that began in South America and has caught on world-wide. Some of the work was practical: volunteers dragged trees from yards and cleaned up debris to make the homes navigable while others helped put tarps over damaged roofs to protect the insides of the homes. Some work was in more of a compassionate nature: volunteers helped people whose homes were destroyed to search for mementos and important items that had survived the storms. Missionaries discontinued their proselytizing work to assist in the recovery efforts. Some church members simply went door to door asking if anyone needed help. The services were given regardless of religious affiliation. They found one orchard with more than forty fallen trees , and Mormons worked to cut into smaller pieces and clear away.

There are currently almost 77,000 Mormons in North Carolina in 154 congregations. The first missionary in the state arrived in 1838. Jedediah Grant stayed until 1845 and in that time he organized seven congregations and left behind a membership of about 350 people. In the 1840s, many Mormons left the state due to intense persecution, but in 1875, work began again and new congregations were organized. In 1894, the leaders of the Church began asking members to stay in their home towns instead of moving to Utah and from that time on, church membership began to grow. Unfortunately, in 1906, mobs burnt a church building and forced missionaries out of the area, but they were able to return in the next century and the church has grown rapidly since that time.

Read more about tornado cleanup on LDS.org.

Mormons Sponsor Day of Service for Sacramento

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often called Mormons, sponsored a Day of Service for Sacramento, California. It was part of a larger statewide-program the Mormons organized. Although sponsored by the Church, community members were invited to participate and many did. About 10,000 volunteers across California and Hawaii volunteered in their communities that day.

Mormons sponsored a Day of Service in Sacramento, California

In Sacramento, 1,200 volunteers showed up to work in three parks. About 1000 of them were Mormons and the others were volunteers who heard about the projects and wanted to help out. Over the course of the day, they planted flower beds, built paths, painted facilities, cleaned up trash, and painted the curbs on a roundabout to mark them non-parking zones. It is believed to be the largest volunteer event ever held in West Sacramento.

Even children helped with the activity. Parents commented that they wanted their children to know they had the power to make their world a better place and to learn to serve the communities where they lived. One teenager looked forward to returning to the park and knowing he had made a difference there.

This was the second year the Mormons had gathered to improve their community, but Days of Service have a long tradition in the Church, as Mormons are encouraged to be an active part of their communities.

Read the full story.

Mormons Help Raise Money for Mammograms

Almost 100 Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently served as volunteers at the 10th Annual Joy to Life Foundation’s “Walk of Life” in Alabama. The walkathon, sponsored by the Joy to Life Foundation, raises money to provide mammograms to women under fifty in portions of Alabama who can’t afford to get them. The volunteers, who are often called Mormons due to their belief in the Book of Mormon as a companion to the Bible, helped with registrations, assisted with set-up and clean-up, assisted with sponsor booths and helped to guide runners. John Enslen oversaw the Mormons who volunteered and said they felt it was a worthwhile project because it helped to prevent breast cancer in a time when government was less able to fund such programs.

Mormons assisted at fundraiser for mammogram care in Alabama.

The project was part of a Mormon tradition known as Day of Service and the Mormon Helping Hands program. Helping Hands began in South America as a way for Mormons to serve their communities and has since spread world-wide. In 2011, Mormons are being asked to provide a day of service in their communities around the world.

Days of Service are a familiar concept to Mormons in Alabama. In fact, the governor, Robert Bentley, declared April 2011 as “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Month of Service.” His goal was to honor Mormons for their local service, usually done in conjunction with local service organizations or government and their history of world-wide humanitarian work.

Last year, the volunteers who helped with Walk of Life participated in a food drive for the Montgomery Area Food Bank. Working with other local organizations, volunteers were able to collect 4,221 pounds of food and nearly 3,700 dollars in cash. Partnering with other organizations allows them to make much larger differences and also builds relationships in the community and with other churches.

For instance, the Montgomery area of Alabama recently faced a devastating tornado. The Mormons were able to organize 28 men to help with cleanup efforts. They joined with volunteers from other churches and together, the 50 volunteers were able to make a tremendous difference in their own neighborhoods. One story reported by media was of two sisters who were killed after their home was hit by the brunt of the storm, leaving only the foundation remaining. Devastated family members did not know how to begin working through the mess to find mementos they might be able to rescue. A team of volunteers removed trees to make a path for vehicles, including one donated by a Mormon Sunday School teacher. Once trucks could get to the home, volunteers removed the tree cover so the family could get to the foundation to search for photos and other sentimental items. While saving pictures might seem unimportant in the larger scheme of things, it was emotionally essential to the grieving family. Family members expressed their appreciation that complete strangers answered God’s call to come and help them. Many of the volunteers that day had worked in clean-up efforts for other storms in four states.

Birmingham held a day of service to assist with tornado issues as well. Local leaders arranged for clothing to be sent from Salt Lake City, Utah, where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is headquartered. Local Mormons and missionaries helped to distribute the clothing to people who had lost their clothing in the deadly tornadoes.

Mormons Blanket California and Hawaii with Service

On April 30, 2011, Mormons in California and Hawaii spread out across their states to provide service to the government and local charities. The second annual Day of Service involved 65,000 Mormons and many other volunteers from religious and community groups. In addition, many companies made donations of supplies. It is estimated that the California project saved the government 4.5 million dollars.

Volunteers told reporters they enjoyed opportunities to give to their communities, work with others, and to serve. Community leaders, service organizations, and political leaders expressed gratitude to the Mormons for their contributions to their cities or programs.

“All I can say is thank you to the Mormon Helping Hands project. Davis is a city of volunteerism … but to see one group in one day come in with such force and generosity is humbling. It inspires us all to do more,” said Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza in California. Volunteers there worked to improve gardens and painted bike tunnels and fence in gardens.

Tom Larson, who oversees a farm at Orange County Great Park said, ““We’re so grateful. These in the future will produce a lot of fruit. Every tree is going to provide something for someone who needs something.” At this farm, volunteers planted trees and coated some existing trees with a substance that protects them. The food grown is used to feed the hungry.

Mormons at a recent Day of Service in Hawaii and California

Joe R. Mendoza, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation pointed out the financial benefits of the day of service. “This Mormon volunteer day enhances the park while instilling pride within the community. The project also saves Los Angeles County dollars in a tough economic time.”

The projects covered a wide range of services. In Redlands, California, two miles of meridian was renovated. Volunteers beautified the streets using 1,069 cubic yards of mulch, 72 trees, nearly 1,700 plants and tons of river rock, completing the project in half the anticipated time. Redlands High School sent its athletes out to spread the heavy rocks along the meridian as a way to give back to the town that is always giving to them.

Over at the Redlands Bowl, a performing arts center, volunteers repaired a roof with the help of contractors and a Rotary member. Other volunteers painted benches. Volunteers from Home Depot, which provided a 40,000 dollar grant for the day of service, worked to repair benches. Other businesses and organizations also sent donations and volunteers. The Kiwanas fed the volunteers, although they had about 300 more volunteers than the 2000 they planned for. All together, the Mormon-inspired program saved about 400,000 dollars in materials and labor. The mayor of Redlands said it would have taken years for the city or its Service Club Council to have completed the work that was done on that single Saturday.

One group of volunteers cut plastic into strips and then crocheted them into bedrolls for the homeless in a unique recycling/community service project. In Hawaii, thousands of volunteers collected trash, including bulky items, from city and state parks. Throughout California, schools, parks, and government buildings got repainted and cleaned. Volunteers cleaned and improved veterans’ cemeteries and weeded gardens. Graffiti was removed from neighborhoods. Flowers were planted at a psychiatric hospital.

Many of the volunteers were teenagers and children. Little children commented on how happy it made them feel to be helping others. Too often people forget that young children can make a difference, but these children were learning, in a very practical way, that they could. Many of the young people commented on how much they looked forward to returning to their work to see what they accomplished.

Mormons have a long tradition of serving others because it is what Jesus Christ taught them. They find the service performed during this event particularly meaningful because there may not have been government money available for the projects, but they were able to demonstrate that citizens can pool their time and resources and make a difference even in the most challenging of times.

Muslims Honor Mormons for Charitable Service

On April 8, 2011, representatives from four Southern California chapters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held an event to show appreciation for the Christ-like example shown by the Mormons towards Ahmadi Muslims over the years.  In 2003, a fire at a Chino mosque deprived local Muslims of a place to worship.  During the rebuilding phase from 2007 to 2009, the local Chino Mormon congregations opened their building to the Muslim group for their required weekly Sermon and Islamic Prayers every Friday, as well as other religious gatherings.  The Mosque re-opened in October of 2009 to serve the 700 members of the Ahmadiyya community.

The event was held in the remodeled structure, the Tahrir Hall, and Indian food was served.  A commemorative plaque was given to Mormon Chino Stake President Daniel Stevenson that contained a verse from the Muslim Holy Book, the Quran, which read:

“. . .And thou shalt assuredly find those who say, ‘We are Christians’ to be nearest to the believers in their love for God. That is because among them are savants and monks, and because they are not proud.” [1]

President Stevenson addressed the group, decrying the fact that as recently as May 28th of 2010 until Feb. 6th of this year, more than a hundred Ahmadi Muslims have been viciously murdered by Muslim extremists in Pakistan and Indonesia. He called on God to protect and provide for the persecuted members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community throughout the world.  Speakers from the Mormon attendees and Muslim representatives stressed the similarities between Ahmadi Muslims and Mormons, including references to persecution.  There was a question and answer period to increase understanding.

Mormon Helping Hands in Nova Friburgo, Brazil

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons,  went to the mountain region of Nova Friburgo,  in the state of Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil, to clean the city on Saturday, 19 February 2011.  More than one thousand LDS volunteers cleaned streets, hospitals and schools after devastating floods and landslides in January.

The Mormon Helping Hands project in Nova Friburgo is one of many that have taken place in Brazil and other parts of the world following natural disasters since 1998. Through Mormon Helping Hands Latter-day Saints have also pitched in at other times and in many areas of the world to clean and beautify communities. Thousands of volunteers have donated millions of hours of service.  Winter of 2010-2011 has been severe enough to warrant clean-up projects in many locations.

LDS volunteers at the service project in Brazil included local Mormons and Mormon missionaries serving in the area.

Missouri Mormons Open Meetinghouse to Muslim Neighbors

Mormons have opened their meetinghouse in St. Charles, Missouri, about 25 minutes west of St. Louis, to their Muslim neighbors who need a place to pray five times each Friday.   Fifteen to thirty local Muslims use the church “cultural hall” as a mosque.

The invitation was extended through the work of LDS member Deborah Coffey, who works with other faiths as part of the Interfaith Counsel in St. Charles.   Several years ago the Muslim leaders came to the Interfaith Counsel in St. Charles asking for a place to worship on Fridays.   Deborah contacted the stake president.  The stake president did not hesitate.  Both felt it was a honor to be helpful.

St. Louis is home to is home to about 75 thousand Muslims and 14 thousand Mormons. 

The Muslims in St. Charles, are hoping to one day build a mosque on a piece of land a short distance away from the LDS church where they currently worship in order to keep up with the growth.

No date has been set for the construction of the mosque in St. Charles. At this time they are still in the process of purchasing the land, so it could be a while before anything is built.  [1]

“It was a blessing for us that we have a bigger place, said Khan. “God bless Mormon church they opened the door for us and we are very pleased, very happy and god will give them a reward.”

Mormons Set Records for Food Donations

The Guinness world record for food collected in 24 hours at one location was broken Sept. 14, 2009, by a group of Mormons in Calgary, Canada.  Knowing that, the North Carolina  School of Science and Mathematics in Durham called on local Mormons after failing to break the record in 2010.

“It’s the perfect partnership,” said Sue Anne Lewis, student life instructor at the Durham school. “They’re providing the manpower, the energy and the enthusiasm.”

The church, which has an extensive welfare program and a regional network of farms, storehouses and canneries, has always taken good care of its own. But members of this 13.8 million-member worldwide church also undertake numerous humanitarian and relief projects around the globe. [1]

Mormons sorted through donations in the parking lot of the Mormon temple in Apex.  Local congregations set goals for the number of pounds of food to be donated and solicited help from neighbors.  The goal is to beat the 509,148-pound-record for food amassed in one location on one day. School leaders hope to go beyond the record and top 550,000 pounds. The food collected will benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Other churches and neighborhood organizations also are partnering with the school, plus businesses such as Walmart and Chick-fil-A.

But the Mormons contribute a special kind of expertise.

As far back as 1937, former Mormon Church President J. Reuben Clark Jr. decreed that members keep a year’s supply of food and water in case of emergency. The church’s “Provident Living” website includes a food storage calculator, and instructs families on how best to package and store foods.  Each Mormon congregation has a designated “welfare and food storage specialist,” and that person will put in orders for bulk items, such as wheat, that members can sign up to buy.

30 Quebec Wards and Branches Help with Cleanup

Mormon congregations are formed on a geographical basis and are called “wards.”  Smaller groups of Latter-day Saints are called “branches.”  Both types of congregations are found in Quebec, and thirty of them joined together  through the Mormon Helping Hands program to participate in the 17th annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.

More than 400 Helping Hands volunteers showed up to help and worked at two cleanup sites in the Montreal area. The projects were at Montreal’s Angrignon Park and along the St. Lawrence River in Longueuil. This was the first ever Quebec-wide Mormon Helping Hands Service Day.

Over the seventeen years it has been held, the Quebec shoreline cleanup project has grown to be one of the largest projects of its kind in the world.   Nearly 1 million kilograms of shoreline litter has been removed from Canadian Shorelines since 1997.   This year’s cleanup covered over 4 miles of shoreline and gathered over 4,000 pounds of trash. 

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