The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints is known for its worldwide humanitarian services. The LDS church on James Street in Sunnyland, heed a day of service on Oct. 8 that sent food to Ferndale Food Bank on Main Street, pillows to the Lighthouse Mission Ministries and clothes and shoes to We Care.
“It basically helps you get through months especially when you are low-income,” said Joanne Hayes, one of the clients of the Ferndale Food Bank. She is a single mother with two children and would come to the Food Bank twice a month to receive food.
“I couldn’t make it with my two kids without it,” Hayes added.
“My food stamps have gotten cut, the food bank basically is all that I’m gonna have,” said Mildred Pavone, another client of Ferndale Food Bank. Pavone has two children and is on social security disability due to cancer.
“It’s a life-saver,” said Cathay Owens, a client of Ferndale Food Bank too. She appreciates the help Ferndale Food Bank gave and the help it received too.
The purpose of the project was to have the neighbourhood help out as many needy and underprivileged people as possible, said Rebecca Brownell, organizer of the project.
Brownell, 37, grew up in Utah and has been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints since young. She moved to Sunnyland about four years ago.
Brownell said they were thinking about a project where people of ages could help and the type of communities they would like to donate to. “We could have gone to any of them but one of the ladies in our ward has connections,” Brownell said about the chosen communities which they were helping. “She has worked with them before and also they are connected with the women’s shelter. We thought that would be a great place to donate to.”
Fliers were given out and an announcement was made during a Sunday mass to inform about the service project.
Volunteers with their families came in as early as 9 a.m. in preparation for the crowd later in the day. Tables and chairs were set up as stations in the church’s indoor basketball court. Each station represented for the different donated items: clothes, shoes and food. Two sewing stations were set up on the left-end of the court: one to do straight sewing and another to stuff and stitch the pillows. A “Letters for the Missionaries” station was placed in the center of the court for children to write letters and draw pictures on papers for the missionaries in different countries.
Volunteers and donors brought food, clothes and shoes to the LDS church. The volunteers gathered and organized the different items and delivered them to the various selected communities.
“All donations are greatly appreciated and used as needed,” said Ron Buchinski, executive director of the Lighthouse Mission Ministries, in an email.
“One in six residents in Whatcom County suffers from food insecurities. Ferndale Food Bank sees itself as a basic needs service by providing food to the homeless, displaced and senior citizens,” said Suzanne Nevan, executive director of Ferndale Food Bank. Ferndale Food Bank is supported by the government but its 4,000 pound supply was cut down to 1,400 pound.
“Therefore, we need all the help we can get,” Nevan said. “But what I’ve learned is that: If you ask people for help, they will give it to you.”
The project was a success as about 30 volunteers and donors turned up to help and donate. “I love doing things that serve people,” said Kathleen Lord, a volunteer for The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints service project.
“It’s fun for everybody to come together and work for service, for people who are less fortunate,” said Doreen Fife, another volunteer for the project. “What am I going to do? Right now, I’m helping the kids because that’s the “funnest”!”
