The Western Australian Government and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have come to the rescue, helping to prepare 8,100 care bags for front line health-care workers in Western Australia. The packs will be sent throughout the state’s seven regional districts over the next few weeks, to provide support for critical health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project is an initiative by the Western Australian Country Health Service, to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the regional health workers. The care bags are a thank you gift, which include items that will protect them during this unprecedented viral outbreak.
Project leader, Natasha Laden, who works for the Aboriginal Health Strategy, shared: “I genuinely believe I was put on this earth to provide assistance to vulnerable people. When the pandemic started, I felt an obligation to help in any way I could, and offered my assistance.”
Although materials were donated and purchased for the care bags, the task of putting the bags together was going to prove daunting for one individual. This is where missionary and member volunteers from the Church helped to keep the project on track. The project was then extended to other community and health-care volunteers, who united to accomplish the job.
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Many people have been looking for ways to serve during this global crisis, but it took one individual to find a way, offering to find people to assist with the massive task at hand. Jacinta Mack, a Church member in the Como area, initiated the call for local missionaries to help Natasha ready the packs for distribution.
In gratitude, Natasha expressed: “I am so appreciative of the assistance provided by President Bennallack [Australia Perth Mission President] and the different teams of missionaries. They have been such a positive influence in a time when I was feeling under pressure, due to the requirements of the project. Thank you to all involved.”
This project was a culmination of donors who care, organisations willing to supply what was needed, and individuals listening to the needs in the community. The attitudes and actions of the volunteers were a great example of the adage: "Where there's a will, there's a way!"
One of the missionary volunteers, Sister Tukuafu, shared that “coming today and serving was amazing. I feel excited and really grateful for this opportunity to be helping these people.”
Others assisting with the work were rewarded, when the little group of missionaries sang the hymn, “Count your Many Blessings,” ending the day with a focus on gratitude.