Las Vegas Humanitarian Center Assembles Cleaning Kits

Jan 2009 Issue

By Elder Henry Hoogland
Las Vegas Humanitarian Service Supervising Missionary
Last August, the Las Vegas Humanitarian Room was asked to complete a special project of assembling 16,800 “Cleaning Kits” consisting of a four-gallon plastic bucket containing fifteen cleaning implements and materials. The assembly for these kits needed to be done by volunteers from the membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The buckets and their contents were designed to provide meaningful humanitarian relief to those suffering the effects of earthquakes, floods, fires or other calamities and have been used in numerous disasters over the past several years. The Cleaning Kits, as they are called, provide the victims essential cleaning materials and start the healing process for those whose homes have been impacted so catastrophically.

The Regional Welfare Committees with Presidents Tom Deaver and Richard Wenger coordinated with the several stakes regarding dates and opportunities to serve on the project. Direction was provided by a Project
Specialist, who had gained expertise setting up similar projects during recent disasters by participating in California, Georgia and other places.

These volunteers were from Las Vegas stakes, including the Central, the Lone Mountain, Tule Springs, Highland Hills, Red Rock and Green Valley Stakes.

Over the course of the events, a total of 1,208 volunteers completed
17,500 kits (208 pallets of 84 buckets each). By the end of August, two weeks after completion, the assembled kits were shipped to the Gulf Coast in time for Hurricane Gustav (Sept. 1) and Hurricane Ike (Sept. 14).

As a result of recent fires in California, remaining Cleaning Kit stocks from other areas have also been depleted. So the need to replenish these commodities is great. Las Vegas Saints were again asked to help.
Replacement supplies were received, and during December, volunteers from the Sandstone, Las Vegas, Lakes, South, Warm Springs and Anthem Stakes completed another 204 pallets, consisting of more than 17,000 cleaning kits. The Church certainly practices the temporal gospel we preach- taking care of Father’s children whenever and wherever there is a need.

These special projects from Salt Lake are completed in addition to the regular activities of the Las Vegas Humanitarian Room.

The humanitarian center is run by nine missionaries- 4 couples and a single sister. It is open 10-4 Tues-Thurs, and in the evening for group projects.

Through these special programs, we have been blessed to know some of the most special people: stroke victims; a brother who was in a car wreck and a coma for six weeks who came to fold towels for the kits; an autistic boy who scurried around gathering the cardboard boxes in the work area, and so many more. They come to serve.

We have learned that at the heart of serving are sweet experiences. Our part of the miracle is the experiences of the local saints. We have learned just how powerful it is to “stand shoulder to shoulder and lift where we stand.”

The Humanitarian Service Room missionaries would encourage members to come and serve; log in to the Humanitarian Services link at www.humanitarianservices.org to see what the current needs are Church-wide and to find the patterns and specifications for the different items; and contact our Humanitarian Service Room to see if you, your family, or your Ward can help meet local needs. If you have a surplus of material, if there are contractors who have scrap lumber that can be used for blocks or wooden toys—all of this is needed and can be converted into items to be treasured by children near and far.
Call 702-649-8191 x 134 to book group appointments.

In the last 12 months the LV-HSR volunteers and missionaries have assembled, produced and sent to the Humanitarian Service Center in Salt Lake City, the following items for distribution in and out of our community;

• 25,248 Hygiene Kits

• 6,136 Newborn Kits

• 8,572 School Kits

• 1,070 quilts

• 1,257 games & toys

• 1,695 articles of children’s clothing

• 12 cases of misc. medical supplies and more.

In addition to those items sent to the HSC-SL they provided the following items to groups in the Las Vegas area;

• 89 filled backpacks

• 192 School Kits

• 12 cases of misc. school supplies

• 1535 Hygiene Kits