When Cyclone Debbie left behind a trail of destruction, the Gold Coast Stake (diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to the rescue to pitch in and help with the clean-up.
The call for help arrived by email late on March 31st and within twenty-four hours, volunteers were packed, trained, and ready to be shipped out to the worst flood affected areas. Forty volunteers were dispatched through the Red Cross to Northern Queensland to sweep out water and remove damaged furniture. Red Cross were thrilled and overwhelmed with the efforts of the Latter-day Saint community.
Chris Priester, Jim Fuggle, Becy Fuggle, Ballina Unit NSW SES
Additional Church member volunteers found other ways to administer relief from afar. Families collected baby clothing, blankets and toys for those affected by the Cyclone. The women’s organisation spent their weekend assembling 350 hygiene kits on behalf of Red Cross to be distributed to families who lost everything in North Queensland.
Even though the Church participates in the Mormon Helping Hands global day of service each year, congregations are encouraged to serve all year round, helping where needed.
The Mormon Helping Hands program brings together members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their neighbors to provide community service. These volunteers in their trademark yellow shirts help people whose lives have been affected by natural disasters and other emergencies. Mormon Helping Hands volunteers also partner with government and nonprofit organizations to support and improve the communities where they live.