The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today released its annual “Caring for Those in Need” report, highlighting the Church’s global humanitarian efforts and service initiatives during 2025. The report outlines a year of significant charitable outreach, with US$1.58 billion in assistance provided across 196 countries and territories through humanitarian aid, welfare support, self-reliance programs and volunteer service.
The report documents 3,514 humanitarian projects worldwide, as well as 7.4 million hours of volunteer service donated by Church members and missionaries in communities around the globe.
In a message included in the report, the Church’s First Presidency emphasized the spiritual foundation of these efforts. “As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we seek to follow Him by ministering to the sick, feeding the hungry, and comforting the afflicted,” the First Presidency wrote. “Ours is a ministry of great joy to all of God’s children.”
Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, the Church’s Presiding Bishop, said the global report reflects service occurring at the local level. “Much of this meaningful service happens within our communities,” he said. “It is inspiring to see members and friends of the Church participating in simple, daily acts of service as they strive to serve others as Christ would.”
Global Focus on Self-Reliance and Humanitarian Relief
The report highlights initiatives addressing urgent needs while building long-term resilience. Among the efforts outlined in 2025 were:
- 638 education projects designed to expand access to learning opportunities.
- Food donations exceeding 37 million pounds, equal to approximately 31 million meals, provided through bishops’ storehouses and partner organizations.
- Addiction recovery, employment, and financial self-reliance programs reaching more than 142,000 participants worldwide.
The Church also expanded its global humanitarian initiative focused on women and children. According to the report, collaborative efforts helped 219,000 pregnant mothers receive prenatal care, provided vitamins to more than 21 million mothers and children, and screened 1.87 million children for malnutrition.
“When we care for women and children through nutrition, maternal and newborn care, immunizations, and education, we are investing in a healthier and more hopeful future,” said Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President.
Humanitarian Projects in Australia
The report also highlights humanitarian initiatives across the Pacific region. In Australia, the Church supported a range humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, including assistance to flood-affected communities in Queensland and News South Wales, and education programs for Indigenous and Pacific Island communities in regional Australia.
The Church also partnered with local charities to support Australians in need. These include:
- Working with The Fred Hollows Foundation in support of the South-West Aboriginal Medical Service to provide specialist optometry care, screenings, and community engagement
- Funding critical equipment for a new CareFlight jet, ensuring high-quality care for critically ill patients during medical transfers
- Supporting the Urapuntja Health Service to fund a bush food garden to improve nutrition and health outcomes in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
In Melbourne’s western suburbs, donations provided by the Church enabled West Welcome Wagon to deliver essential aid and community programs to 582 refugee and asylum seeker households. Colette McInerney, CEO of West Welcome Wagon, said the donation allowed the them to continue delivering dignity, comfort, and connection to households across Melbourne’s west, ensuring that ‘welcome’ is not just a word, but “a lived experience, one home, one family, and one community at a time”.
These initiatives reflect the Church’s broader approach to humanitarian work, which emphasizes partnerships with local organizations and long-term solutions for communities facing poverty, disaster, and food insecurity.
Continuing a Legacy of Service
The report notes that the Church’s organized welfare efforts began in 1936, with global humanitarian programs expanding in 1984. Today, those initiatives continue to grow through partnerships with organizations such as UNICEF, World Food Programme, and CARE, among others.
Church leaders say the report is intended not only to share the scope of humanitarian work but also to encourage individuals to serve within their own communities.
“As we serve others, we are truly serving Him,” the First Presidency wrote in the report. “Each of us is answering His call to be a light to the world and to follow the Savior’s pattern of loving our neighbor.”