Tasmanian Mormons and Anglicans Help Families During Tough Times

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in the Tasmanian cities of Launceston and Burnie recently partnered with the Anglican Church’s Anglicare organization to bring food to needy families.

Latter-day Saints collected non-perishable food items valued at $4,000 which were donated to Anglicare for distribution to families doing it tough.

Mr John West, Anglicare's North West Area Manager for Children, Families and Community Services, thanked supporters of the initiative at a recent hand-over ceremony in Launceston.

“Anglicare has become increasingly aware that a growing number of families on low incomes are struggling with the increased cost of living and are struggling to purchase food and essentials,” Mr West said.

“This donation will assist many families by continuing to provide for their fundamental needs.”

Launceston Mayor Albert Van Zetten, his wife Lyndle, and Anglicare Northern Area Manager Ruth Chalk also attended the hand-over ceremony at the Latter-day Saint chapel in Launceston.

During his address, Mayor Zetten commended members of the Church for their charitable work and urged them to continue their service by becoming involved in other good causes in the community. He also serves as the CEO of City Mission Launceston. 

Local Latter-day Saint leader, Scott Prebble, also spoke at the event.

“As Christians our responsibility is to give of our time and our means in service to those in our community we see in need.  We should also be actively engaged in seeking out those who might require assistance,” he said.

Pacific Area President of the Church, Elder James J. Hamula, explained in 2013 why Latter-day Saints engage in community service and humanitarian efforts.
 
“When you attend church in Australia or New Zealand you see tremendous ethnic diversity in Church membership,” he says. “Yet amidst this diversity there is great unity, remarkable unity, among our church members,” he said.

He continues: “Such unity comes, I think, from a real and substantial faith among our people in the Fatherhood of God.  You cannot believe in the Fatherhood of God without also believing in the brotherhood of man.”

“This faith in our Heavenly Father, which comes so readily and easily to the peoples of the Pacific, is what drives us to accept each other with love and understanding, and to undertake the humanitarian work that we do on behalf of our fellow man.”

Read more about Latter-day Saints and interfaith relations, community service and humanitarian efforts.
 
Watch a video, titled, “What drives Mormon humanitarian work?”