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I wanted to brag about a ward tonight. I am a volunteer leader at inter-denominational homeless shelter. One of the cool characteristics of this shelter is that it is housed in a church. And staffed by other religious congregations in our community. I had only volunteered as fill in helper last year but a staffing need opened and I accepted the challenge. My job is food management. The shelter isn’t funded by the government either state or local. The host church pays for the utilities including, heat, lights, shower and laundry water usage. The food is by donation or collection. Each church varies on amounts and what it brings.
Three LDS wards in the community participate (none of them are mine or even in my Stake). This week was the first LDS ward. Oh my word – what an outstanding job they have done. Food upon food. Hot meals, snacks, chocolate milk as a treat, fruit, veggie trays, chips, juice boxes, bread galore. And people. We have multiple shifts and a base number to fill each shift. Every night they exceed the required number. Then they ask what more can they bring. Do we need new bath towels, hygiene supplies. A lady arrived tonight with a bundle of hand knitted hats, scarves, mittens. The Bishop has been there every night.
I was out of town when the Catholic Church week happened, but I have heard they were much the same way. And I assume as the winter goes on other denominations will do the same. It’s not required. Yet very appreciated.
I get to talk to the volunteers while we set up the dining room. This ward has done this for 4 years. And always looks forward to it. Tonight they even asked if they could get my number and call me when we don’t have regular churches assigned because they would be happy to bring a hot main dish to help out.
No yellow vests. No missionary tags. No pass along cards. Nothing. Dressed in jeans and hoodies (okay there were some “Y”s and EFY slogans) but nothing really obvious. Kids, teens and adults.
So yeah the Old Ship of Zion may lean. We may mess up big in some key areas. But I know one LDS ward that takes “Serving the Poor and Needy” to it’s fullest extent. And they look like they are having fun.
:clap: I’m impressed with how long they’ve kept it going and how cooperative everyone is. They’ve really stepped up and provided even though we don’t open our buildings for this.
(In my new calling I’ve had to think about why we don’t. I get it, but I also don’t get it.)
In one way I am not surprised. It does make me wonder what is holding members back? Too busy focused on the ward? LookingHard wrote:In one way I am not surprised. It does make me wonder what is holding members back? Too busy focused on the ward?
That’s what I think. That and just plain too busy with all the other things that are expected.
Thanks for sharing Mom3. What a great experience. I believe things like this go much farther in “bringing people the restored gospel” than bored missionaries knocking on doors because they have nothing else to do.
DarkJedi wrote:I believe things like this go much farther in “bringing people the restored gospel” than bored missionaries knocking on doors because they have nothing else to do.
100% agreement from me. I just wish my kids on missions could do a LOT more service and I think they would reap more converts in the process.I think anybody that is following my posts will notice I still have lots of frustration. I am in the process of stepping back from my activity in the church. But I am glad for this site and others that help me see that there is so much good in the church. I look at it as a good/better/best situation. It keeps me from being that angry exmo that I so much don’t want to be. I really really know that many (most) of the people in my ward are honest and really do want to help others. I have to admit that the church in general does push people to be good. Sometimes that focus on good is geared more towards the ward and sometimes keeping people “in”, but I can think of a handful of people in our ward that I LOVE because of what good hearted and honest people they are. I live in a non-LDS area and I have found some others that are as good as the good in the church, but it seems to take years to find them.
I know it is after thanksgiving, but I give thanks for all of you on this site. You have helped me keep my sanity. I really mean that.
LookingHard wrote:But I am glad for this site and others that help me see that there is so much good in the church. I look at it as a good/better/best situation. It keeps me from being that angry exmo that I so much don’t want to be. I really really know that many (most) of the people in my ward are honest and really do want to help others. I have to admit that the church in general does push people to be good. Sometimes that focus on good is geared more towards the ward and sometimes keeping people “in”, but I can think of a handful of people in our ward that I LOVE because of what good hearted and honest people they are. I live in a non-LDS area and I have found some others that are as good as the good in the church, but it seems to take years to find them.
I know it is after thanksgiving, but I give thanks for all of you on this site. You have helped me keep my sanity. I really mean that.
Hear, hear!
Yes, thanks a ton, mom3. I’m in the throes of an eyes-open investigation to try to determine when I can trust the church, and under what circumstances its doctrines, policies, practices and culture are harmful. As necessary as I feel my study is, being immersed in such negativity is taking its toll. Your report brings much-needed external realignment. My tribe is truly full of wonderful people who want to do good, and what’s better, they often manage it.
Ann wrote Quote:even though we don’t open our buildings for this.
That is a constant frustration in our home, too. Especially for my husband. Ironically it was a prior Bishop’s desire to feed the homeless in my ward, that got me connected with the group. We never could fulfill my Bishop’s desire. We did as much as we could do. I think he left his calling a bit depressed on that aspect. Even though we did a lot.
The closest our stake comes to opening our buildings to the hungry is hosting a Feed My Starving Children packing event annually. I’m not saying that’s bad, it’s just not face to face feeding the poor. It does bring members of other churches and community members into the building though. A neighboring ward does volunteer a few people a week at a local soup kitchen, 3 or 4 servers one night per week I think.
The woman working in the kitchen with me last night said we should make “Serving the Poor and Needy” a temple recommend question. She and I got into a discussion about the impact it has when you are face to face with the person you are serving. For a bundle of reasons the shelter prefers to keep volunteer helpers to 9 years old and above. Last night there were half a dozen teens among the adults. They were setting up the tables and chairs. Packing the freezer and fridge with the bread, milk, juice they brought.
I had tonight off, but the same ward has it for the next couple of days and I imagine each team will be just as complete.
The volunteers pass out the towels and supplies for the showers. Then later do the laundry in a back room for the next guests. They pack lunches while the guests sleep. They lay out the sleeping mats, pass out the blankets and pillows. And provide dinner and breakfast.
Whoever comes to volunteer – it is a life impact moment. And I needed to see an LDS congregation that I had no connection to doing this. It returned a spot of hope to my heart. It was my Jesus moment for the season.
True religion and undefined, indeed. *standing ovation*
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