Every day, ordinary people around the world follow the Boy Scout slogan and “do a good turn daily.” They spread Christ-like love and give of themselves to help others. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints often serve others because they know that “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). Let’s see who got caught doing good recently.
Kate’s Kicks for Charity
Tracie Snowder reports to Deseret News that 14 year-old Kate Hinckley is using her artistic talent to help a California family in need. Kate loves to draw and has started to sketch her artwork onto shoes and sell them. She saves the money in order to assist a family her grandparents met on their mission. Kate’s mother, Amy Hinckley, says that “[i]t was really neat. She had no desire to keep the money at all.” Kate Hinckley is truly an example of Christ-like love and continues making shoes and earning money to help this family.
Helping Hands Clean Debris from Arkansas Tornado
On April 27th, a devastating category 4 tornado struck the towns of Vilonia and Mayflower in Arkansas. 15 people were killed, 150 injured, and hundreds of homes and buildings were destroyed. Afterwards, hundreds of Helping Hands volunteers came to help. Mormon Newsroom reports that Helping Hands has paired up with the American Red Cross and Team Rubicon in the past few weeks to clean up debris. Members from local congregations assisted as well by making quilts and kits for the tornado victims.
African-American Genealogy Conference
Recently, over 200 members attended an African-American Genealogy Conference held in Harlem, New York. Those who attended the conference listened to speakers and had the opportunity to work on their family history. Janet Peterson of Church News reports that speakers covered topics such as using the internet, strategic research plans, and oral histories. Members excitedly continue to hasten the work of the Lord in serving and finding ancestors whose temple work still needs to be done.
Youth Help with Operation Smile in Ecuador
Operation Smile is a humanitarian service where volunteers pay to go to low-income countries and perform cleft lip and palate surgeries on children who wouldn’t have been able to afford the operation otherwise. Operation Smile visits Ecuador twice a year, and recently they gained a few more volunteers. Church News reports that youth from the local Babayoha Stake came to help with the children and lift the spirits of the families during the operation.
Helping Hands and the American Red Cross Provide Relief to Texas Flood Victims
Helping Hands and the American Red Cross team up again, The Church has often partnered with the American Red Cross, to help assess damages and provide relief to victims of the recent flash floods in central Texas. Two local stakes set up Red Cross training centers where members in the area trained in disaster damage assessment so they could better assist the flood victims. Colette McCullough of Church News reports that President Kent Huntsman of the Round Rock Texas East Stake said, “[w]e are pleased to partner with the Red Cross as we prepare to assist those in need during times of disaster.”
