By Dave Jackson

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

This was the Lord’s response when asked by the righteous, “When saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee…” See Matthew 25:31-46

Frequently, during General Conference and in Church publications, we are reminded of the wonderful work which is done by the Humanitarian Services of the Church. On the news we see footage of airplanes taking off from the Salt Lake City Airport bound for an area hit by a disaster, or photos of these goods being distributed to our needy brothers and sisters. Great assistance is also provided on an ongoing basis to poverty stricken areas of the world.

Membership in our Church is not a factor. The criteria is meeting the needs of the poor and suffering. The assistance is provided quietly, without fanfare. Most of our Church members are not even aware of the extent of this service. Between 1985 and 2006, Humanitarian Services provided more than $900 million in total assistance to needy individuals in 163 countries.

This past month, assistance was given to individuals in widespread areas, including Armenia, Haiti, Jamaica, Mozambique, Kansas, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, and the country of Georgia.

The humanitarian supplies are provided through a combination of resources, including funds from the Church budget, food from Bishop’s Storehouse and Cannery and some clothing provided by Deseret Industries. However, a large portion of the supplies are provided by the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake and the Humanitarian Rooms located in the western U.S.

The function of the Humanitarian Rooms is to help the Center in Salt Lake remain stocked, always prepared to respond to any need, anywhere. Many additional items are sent to the Center because the local members have completed humanitarian projects on their own.

In years past, the Rooms primarily sent their finished products to the Salt Lake Center for distribution. Salt Lake is now encouraging the local units to identify the needs in their own communities and provide assistance at the “neighborhood” level. This additional opportunity lets us see the work first hand and enhances the Church’s presence in the community.

The Humanitarian Service missionaries are encouraged to seek out these needs and identify ways to be of service. Members can assist by bringing organizations to the attention of the missionaries.

Certain items are constants on the list of needs around the world. These include quilts, and newborn, hygiene, and school kits. Knitted, crocheted, or loomed hats and scarves, toys and clothing are always needed.

These needs continue unabated. While a vast majority of these items have been produced by members of the Church, it is exciting to see many of other faiths contribute to this humanitarian service.

The Church website, www.humanitarianservices.org, provides general information, guidelines, and current needs. Help in fulfilling any of these needs is most welcome.

Additionally, the Salt Lake Center may contact a specific Humanitarian Room with an urgent request for a specific need. Very recently, the St. George Humanitarian Room was given the responsibility to assemble 2800 hygiene kits within three weeks. The local members stepped up to accomplish this task, including groups of Young Men and Young Women, Relief Societies and many individuals who showed up at the Room to volunteer their services. In fact, an entire ward offered their services to help complete this project.

What makes the program work is the willingness of the members to serve their fellow man coupled with generous contributions of material items, for no amount of labor can create objects out of nothing.

Now, the opportunity has been provided the members of the Church in the Las Vegas area to participate in this awesome work.

Deseret Industries is not just another thrift shop! Every DI facility has been dedicated as a temporal temple.

When the new Deseret Industries building was constructed at 3750 West Craig Road, a Humanitarian Room was made a part of that facility. The room was outfitted with the equipment and some supplies to bring it on line. Elder Henry and Sister Nedra Hoogland have been called and set apart to lead the Humanitarian program in Las Vegas.

All that is needed to help them bring this work to life are those members willing to serve, either as missionaries or volunteers, and others to help provide the raw materials— including fabrics of all types and amounts, batting and stuffing, and yarn— to be turned into useful items. The resourcefulness of Latter-day Saints is legendary. No where is this more apparent that in the workings of a productive Humanitarian Room.

There is a place for every man or woman who chooses to contribute, either their time, their stuff, or both. Some come to the Room to work while others work at home.
Retirement communities join forces in putting their sewing or crocheting/knitting abilities to good use. A well-stocked Humanitarian Room provides the raw materials for many, while others choose to donate the materials as well as their time and talents. The St. George Humanitarian Room reported nearly 200,000 hours donated in 2006.

Elder Hoogland said that this new Humanitarian Room is an opportunity to, “spread the blessings,” blessing both those who serve and those who are served.

He also observed that this provides us an opportunity to set aside our “personal comforts” as we look to the needs of our brothers and sisters.