We’ve all done our share of service. When we get together as sisters, often we are preparing some kits to send to the Humanitarian Center, so they can send it on to whatever country is in need.

Have you ever wondered what happens to that kit you helped put together?

It is monumental what our Church does for the world, in the way of service. No other organization is as productive as ours is. Other organizations are more well known, in fact, rarely will you hear about our Church’s efforts in any given disaster relief or aid. Mostly, we take a backseat in the recognition department.

I used to lead tours at the Humanitarian Center, and the message I loved most of all was that we, along with the Red Cross, are the first organization to reach any disaster. Our warehouse is full of hygiene kits, etc. and when the call comes; our trucks are on the road, or in the air, within hours. The close association we have with the Red Cross, we owe to Amy Lyman (8th Gen. RS Pres.). She had all the sisters rolling bandages and working closely with the Red Cross during WWII.

A few conferences ago, Bishop Burton gave a talk, reporting on the service the Church does. Since the Church doesn’t toot its own whistle, it was nice to have someone specifically tell us what the news may never tell us.

Bishop Burton said that in 2007 there were 170 major disasters throughout the year. The Church responded to all of them. Keep those hygiene kits coming!

By providing wells, wheelchairs, medical supplies, health-care professionals, immunizations, glasses, etc., the Church aided 4 million people in 85 countries that year. Every year, more and more people need help.

Maybe you’ve noticed those yellow t-shirts on the news helping clear debris, cleaning up, and building new homes. Over 5,000 Mormon Helping Hands helped people in southern California during the raging fires. Of course, those Helping Hands were at Katrina, and other flood and disaster zones throughout the nation.

Working with the World Health Organization, Church volunteers have vaccinated 189,261,345 children from measles in 28 countries. One volunteer from Nigeria said, “I called our labor the ‘rescue of the innocent’. We went house to house and village hall to village hall. A woman told us she had lost three children to measles. She told her story with such grace and passion that there was not a dry eye in the house, mine included.”

Haiti has needed help from the entire world. The Church shipped 55 semi-truckloads of relief supplies to Port-au-Prince, including 894,592 pounds of food and 104,924 hygiene kits.

There are a few points I would like to make with this fantastic report of our wonderful Church.

• The Church couldn’t do this without generous members who support with money, as well as hands-on labor, to do this important work
• The Church asks its members to get out of debt, so that members are in a better situation to help generously
• The missionary labor (humanitarian, welfare, education, as well as proselyting) is based on mentally and physically self-sustaining members
• There is always more to do

I love hearing of our good works. Whether the world knows what we are doing, or not, the world is a better place because of our efforts.
Clearly, the world needs aid, but sometimes we overlook the needs right in our own communities; even in our own neighborhoods. Relief Societies everywhere should help seek out those who are in need. Our humanitarian efforts should be ongoing, consistent, and continually seeking out those who will benefit.

Relief Societies, who work closely with the Bishop, will know who to help, how best to help, and how much to help.

Aid Organizations Winning Measles Battle, Ensign, June 2009
“And Who is my Neighbor?”, Bishop H. David Burton, Ensign, May 2008
“100 days after Haiti Quake, LDS Relief Efforts Persevere, Apr 23, 2010, Church in the News, www.lds.org