The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continuing humanitarian and relief projects at a time of great need in Europe. In addition, new online resources were launched to coordinate efforts and reach out to displaced individuals.
These initiatives include the following:
- More than 100 members and friends of the Madrid Central, East, and West congregations volunteered to assist refugees recently relocated to the Madrid area. They gathered non-perishable food, coats, baby items and cleaning products. Church service providers also created labels to identify the care packages in both Spanish and Ukrainian. Almost 400 packages were prepared and delivered.
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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Moldova supply refugees with blankets at the Ukrainian border© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.- In Moldova, Church members are picking up refugees at the Ukraine border and helping them with food, lodging and other necessities. Most of the refugees left their homes, belongings, and sometimes other family members behind to seek refuge. Even small gestures, such as a stuffed animal or blanket, make a big difference to them.
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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members in Moldova supply stuffed animals to refugee children arriving at the country.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.- Meanwhile in Slovakia, Church members have opened their arms and homes to help friends from Kiyv, providing housing for 13 adults including children as young as 18 months.
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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members in Slovakia offer housing to displaced couples from Ukraine© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.- In Romania, Church members have been gathering food and supplies, including clothing, diapers, and baby food for distribution to refugees crossing the border from Ukraine. Refugees cross all day long, some by car and some by foot. “The images are heartbreaking,” said Church women’s service leader Carmen Pârnău. “I have seen many mothers with little children that struggled because of the cold weather and extreme exhaustion.” The local women have also organized group activities in which Church members made blankets for refugees. In addition, Latter-day Saints Charities, the charitable arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has supplied 100 cots and 100 sleeping bags to refugee camps.
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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints member in Romania volunteer to cut fabric to provide blankets for refugees© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.- Among the displaced persons streaming into Poland are some Ukrainian members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Polish Church members, in response, have opened their homes, made room at their tables, and shared their closets. Stacy Chandler, a Church women’s leader in Poland, predicts “this will change the face of the Church in Poland forever.” She adds “Refugee members made their way here, stopped for a rest, and attended our Sunday services.”
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
- Church members from across Europe are sending clothing, blankets, food and water in cars and minivans to Polish Church meetinghouses. Their common beliefs and shared religious cultural experiences motivate Polish members to feel a deep responsibility to care for their displaced brothers and sisters.
- The Church created an online landing page with current news, links, contact information, and guidelines on how to help people emotionally in times of crisis: https://uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/ukraine-europe-area-emergency-response?lang=eng-gb
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Refugee assistance landing page of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.- A newly created Facebook page was also launched to reach people on social media. Volunteers with various language skills assist those seeking help or information. One of these volunteers is an English teacher from Ukraine who just arrived in Germany with her child and mother-in-law.
Members of the Church in Europe and across the world who desire to help are invited to do so through their respective congregations, donate to the Church’s humanitarian aid or fast offering fund, or work with established relief organizations. Church members feel inspired to follow the example of Jesus Christ in caring for the poor and those in need.