European leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have expressed heartfelt thanks for the “tremendous outreach and support” offered to “our brothers and sisters from Ukraine in their dire circumstances.”
In an April 9 letter announcing additional refugee assistance, the Church’s Europe Area Emergency Response Council said, “The willingness to help those in need reflects the true love of Christ.” The Church authorised special funds to be used locally by each stake (local multi-congregational areas) across the Church’s Europe North and Europe Central Areas for the support of Ukrainian refugees.
Below are accounts of how Latter-day Saints are turning their hearts to service in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK.
The Netherlands
When reports came of refugees coming to the Netherlands, the council of churches in Zoetermeer set up a core team to aid and house the refugees arriving in the city. The team realised that the shoes of incoming Ukrainian refugees were far too warm for the Dutch weather. Soon, a shoe campaign was set in motion.
Michael Vis, a Latter-day Saint member of the council, used the JustServe network (a volunteer service organisation organized by the Church and utilized by communities) to find new and nearly new shoes. Church members contacted friends and neighbours to help. Over 350 pairs of shoes were donated, sorted, cleaned, and brushed as needed. Five cars were filled with shoes and then transported to De Pelgrim, an activity centre and gathering place for refugees. Volunteers from various churches assembled and stocked the shoe racks, and everything was ready for business when the shop opened at 10 a.m. the following Tuesday.
The entire project was activated and executed within one week.
“Not only were the refugees helped with something they really needed, but the quality of the donated shoes and the speed of the execution of the plan was such that it impressed many people,” Vis said. “They now saw us as a group of individuals who can quickly work with us in the community. It opened doors for further future cooperation.”
LightGoodWorks_shoes
Shoes ready for selection in the Netherlands© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.In Nissewaard, Hellevoetsluis, Voorne Putten, and Spijkenisse, friends and members of the Church donated items to one of the largest Ukrainian foundations in the Netherlands. They approached supermarkets and wholesalers for items to donate. One widow donated her late husband’s belongings, knowing they were going to a good cause. The collected goods were then transported to people in Ukraine.
DOWNLOADAngelika Müller, president of the local congregation’s Relief Society (the Church’s women’s organisation) said, “There was no difference among us. We were all one, united with each other in the service of our neighbours.”
DOWNLOADJurgen Reimer, a Latter-day Saint in Church's Apeldoorn Stake helped meet refugees’ medical needs. He donated 10,000 infusion sets, 1,000 transfusion sets and 80 infusion pumps.
Switzerland
Members of the Zurich Stake in Switzerland delivered 100 wound suture sets, 500 kilograms of canned food and 10 boxes of other goods to the Kyiv Stake. The stake is also delivering medical supplies (syringes and cannulas) for hospitals in Kyiv and Dymer.
DOWNLOADThe Zurich Stake is working closely with the Kyiv and Vienna Stakes to organise donations that are most needed locally. The Church meetinghouse (parish hall) in the municipality of Freiburg is serving as a collection point and welcome centre for refugees. Ukrainian mothers and their children come by almost daily to interact and gather whatever they need.
“We are deeply touched by the generous donations,” said Irene and Joerg Moeller-Russo of the Zurich Stake. “Members are opening their homes and hearts, and we can feel how horizons are widened. This is an opportunity to unite and refocus on loving others.”
UK
Over 20 women in the Chelmsford 1st and 2nd wards (congregations) of the Ipswich Stake recently collaborated with members of its local parish council to make welcome packs for Ukrainian refugees arriving in their community.
| 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 |
The women donated the materials and sewed the bags, which the council then filled with toiletries, medical supplies, teddy bears, colouring books, and new clothing for children. Over 100 bags were quickly completed and ready to be delivered.
Donna Hance, the local Events and Funding Manager said, “The bags will bring some comfort to families who in such difficult times may feel that asking for such items will be a burden.”