“Ready to make the most of this Christmas season? That’s the great question asked in the “Light the World” media campaign by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The question is followed with this suggestion: “Try giving as Jesus gave, one person at a time.” In San Antonio the light from one person was multiplied hundreds of times over as volunteers responded to the Church’s “Worldwide Day of Service.”
There were several service opportunities across the city on December 1st. Working with local charities and other faiths, members of the Church and friends in the community showed up in large numbers to serve and to give freely as Christ did.
Many of today’s service events were listed on JustServe.org, a platform that matches service opportunities with willing volunteers. Bunk beds were built and delivered to children who needed beds, a Christmas party was set up and hosted for children suffering from Spina Bifida, food boxes were handed out to the hungry in a beautiful inter-faith effort.
Quinn Johnson, of the San Antonio North Stake, read about the opportunity to hand out food called “Boxes of Blessings” on JustServe. What motivated him to serve today? “It’s just the right thing to do! It’s an awesome opportunity to, honestly to do what the Savior would do and help people that need it…. it’s a great thing to be a part of it and just do some good and make a difference for some people.”
“Boxes of Blessings” was an ecumenical effort combining food provided by Redeemer Presbyterian Church, transportation and delivery was provided by Catholic Charities and volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The food boxes weighed around 30 pounds each. Just under 1,000 boxes were distributed to those in need.
Vouchers or “tickets” were issued through Catholic Charities earlier. Cars with the tickets tucked under their windshield wipers lined up to receive the boxes. Volunteers would take a ticket or two and then the boxes were loaded into their vehicles.
“I love the whole ‘Light the World’ its an awesome kick off for December 1st. I just love the idea of December being all about what it should be about – service,” said Natasha Ireland of the San Antonio East Stake. Natasha’s friend, Erica Curry, said, “My friend told us about the JustServe.org website and we have been looking for opportunities to do community service and it was a good time.”
Natasha added: “It’s even better with friends here so I’m just glad they came out and obviously, the opportunity to teach our children that it is important to serve others. It will help them be more grateful for what they have.”
In addition to the Boxes of Blessings, local members and friends participated in other service events. Over 120 volunteers gathered to build bunk beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Read more about this service opportunity here.
Also, during this “Worldwide Day of Service” youth from the Sonterra Ward in the San Antonio North Stake helped to throw a Christmas party for children suffering from Spina Bifida and their families. Gathering at the Lady Bird Johnson Community Center, the youth working, with Spina Bifida Texas, helped set up, wrap gifts, interact with the kids, serve food and do other duties so that the children could have a fun event.
The youth that participated “loved being there” for the other children. Seeing their faces light up and their happy smiles made their own contribution to the “Worldwide Day of Service” a personal blessing as they followed through on the suggestion to: “Try giving as Jesus gave, one person at a time.”
Do you want to participate in the “Light the World” media campaign? There’s still plenty of time to do your part! Check out the videos packed with ideas on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Christmas page and give as He gave.