Christ's admonition to care for the poor and needy is a doctrinal imperative for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, mormons.1 LDS Charities is the tool.
LDS Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been partnering for over 30 years with other health, aid, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to reach out into the world to make a difference.
It started with a localized effort in Ethiopia in 1985 when a special fast and fast offerings were gathered from Church members in the US and Canada specifically to help with the humanitarian efforts of the famine and drought. The results of the 1985 First Presidency request for donations from the special fast (refraining from food or water for two consecutive meals) far exceeded the expectations of Church leadership. Some $6.4 million dollars was donated to the effort. The Church then partnered with other international aid organizations to deliver relief supplies to the war-torn and drought-stricken country of Ethiopia.
In 1996, a singular “Humanitarian” line was added to the LDS donation slip. All humanitarian fund donations, funds given freely from members worldwide, directly support the Church’s efforts to aid the needy of the world regardless of faith, race or circumstance.
Additional overhead for donated supplies, training and shipping is absorbed by the Church so the donated funds directly impact needy individuals. Church humanitarian leaders also partner with other health, aid and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to maximize their field efforts.
In reviewing these successful organized humanitarian efforts in 1990, President Thomas S. Monson informed Church members, “We have a responsibility to extend help as well as hope to the hungry, the homeless, and to the downtrodden both at home and abroad.”
Additional overhead for donated supplies, training and shipping is absorbed by the Church so the donated funds directly impact needy individuals. Church humanitarian leaders also partner with other health, aid and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to maximize their field efforts.1
Since that time it has grown with over 250 dedicated professional volunteers and more than 80 full-time humanitarian service missionaries performing field work throughout the world. They continue to work in disaster relief and have now focused efforts developing:
1. Neonatal resuscitation program with watch care also for mothers
2. Vision Problems, providing equipment and supplies for eye exams and possible surgeries.
3. Clean water supplies and equipment that provide communities with a more convenient and clean supply.
4. Wheelchairs donations and training for correct fit.
5. Immunizations campaigns to reduce preventable disease.
Humanitarian also partners with local communities. In this scenerio, the community will gather 10% of the cost of the project, which helps the local people "own" their project. When returning to monitor these projects, project managers find the projects that the community "buys' into are well maintained. The community has been taught how to maintain their project.
Often LDS Charities partner with the local Mormon Helping Hands efforts. In 2016 in Botswana, MHH donated 14,000 man hours volunteering for three weeks during the Minister of Health's/World Health Organization's major immunization campaign.
Mormon helping hands can offer the people needed for such a major campaign. They become the "hands" of the Saviour as they work to serve others in their own community.
Humanitarian is there to serve the Lord's children. An example of how He would serve himself.
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