Thousands of Orange County Mormons Will Mobilize April 25 for
Annual Community Day of Service
On April 25, thousands of volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) across Orange County will participate in the annual “Mormon Helping Hands” Community Day of Service planned for all of Southern California. The volunteers, who are among more than 50,000 church members in the county, will carry out service projects with non-LDS friends under the direction of leaders in 16 stakes (a stake is similar to a Catholic diocese, made up of about seven congregations).
“While our church members are always involved in community service, this is the first time that many of our congregations are concentrating their efforts on the same date,” said Curtis Reese, President of the San Clemente Stake and the ecclesiastical leader overseeing the participation of members in Orange County.
Here are some examples of projects planned in various communities; volunteers will be wearing bright yellow “Mormon Helping Hands” vests:
• Mission Viejo / Rancho Santa Margarita / Ladera Ranch – landscaping and clean up at Mission Viejo High School and Tesoro High School. For more information: Ken Gibson -(949) 233-5826. 8am-12pm
• Laguna Hills / Laguna Niguel / Aliso Viejo — painting and clean up for the Aliso Viejo Family Resource Center as well as Boys and Girls Club community center. For more information: Sara Havranek – (949) 466-6575
More About Mormon Helping Hands
The Mormon Helping Hands program was officially established by the church in 1998 to aid in both disaster relief and community projects. Since then, hundreds of thousands of volunteers have donated millions of hours of service to their communities. The program has spread to every corner of the world. Large-scale service projects have been completed from South America to North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and most recently Africa, where, in 2007, nearly 100,000 volunteers worked together in a continent-wide “Mormon Helping Hands” project to clean up their communities.
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“Our members are encouraged to serve in their local communities, with neighbors when possible, because it’s an essential part of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” explained Reese. “Small acts of kindness at home or in your neighborhood can often have far-reaching impact. Even simple activities—reading a book with a child, taking a meal to a neighbor in need, or visiting an elderly grandparent—lift and bless the lives of those who live around us.” Learn more at http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/-mormon-helping-hands-program-a-decade-of-service.
More About LDS Service Activities in Orange County
LDS Church members in Orange County donate thousands of volunteer hours each year to many Orange County organizations, including California Emergency Services, American Red Cross, Volunteer Center, Share Our Selves and Meals on Wheels. They also render service through numerous interfaith councils, foster care organizations, women’s shelters, hospitals, schools and food banks. The church is also a major supporter of Boy Scouts of America with nearly 2,500 scout units in Southern California. Additionally, it originated the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” program for short-term neighborhood emergency preparedness. Learn more at www.lds-oc.org.
More About LDS Humanitarian Aid
Besides promoting volunteerism, the church donates money for humanitarian aid. Since 1986, it has supplied more than $1 billion in cash and commodities for emergency relief, which has been distributed to millions of needy recipients in more than 165 countries, regardless of their religious affiliation. The church regularly partners with the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Islamic Relief Worldwide and other relief agencies. More information about LDS humanitarian aid is available at www.providentliving.org.
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About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest church in the United States by independent estimates, with more than 13 million members. It is also the second largest Christian denomination in California, with more than 800,000 members in the state. Members believe that Jesus Christ Himself restored the church in 1830, which had fallen into apostasy in ancient times. As part of the restoration, Christ called a modern-day prophet – Joseph Smith – to translate an ancient record of those who believed in Christ living on the American continent. This record is now known as the Book of Mormon, named after one of the ancient prophets who abridged and compiled the writings. Learn more at www.lds.org.
