2018 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Community Volunteer Awards
2018 Honoree
Distinguished Service by a Faith Organization
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Research shows that for many, volunteer service begins with their faith, and our city is no exception. The Rancho Cordova Faith Community is a great source of strength to our city.
The 4,200-strong members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Cordova Stake are superheroes in volunteer service, though they probably would not put it that way.
Stake members explained that volunteer service is a basic principal of the LDS faith – that it is important to take care of brothers and sisters within the community, especially those who are downtrodden and less fortunate.
LDS members believe volunteer service is an opportunity to extend a hand of fellowship and serve as did Jesus Christ. It is a principal instilled in children and youth at an early age, helping them to remain humble and spend their time doing good for others.
Volunteering is so important that the LDS Church has developed a website called JustServe.org. JustServe allows non-profits, cities, and service groups with volunteer needs to post projects, at no charge, on the website. Community members and volunteers can then go to JustServe.org to search for volunteer opportunities and find local projects and involve families, schools, groups, and service clubs in volunteering.
Here is a sampling of what they have been up to:
- Teaming up with Blessings in a Backpack, the Stake did a food drive, collecting enough food to fill 400 bags which were distributed to needy Rancho Cordova children. This effort sends snacks and meals home in backpacks to feed hungry kids when they are not in school, such as over the weekend.
- Through JustServe, turkeys were collected for the Cordova Food Locker at both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and volunteers helped with the holiday distributions.
- Working with Cordova High School, home to many refugee students, volunteers responded to a request for help by collecting and assembling hygiene kits, including soap, toothbrushes, floss, razors, shampoo and combs for sharing with these new community residents.
- Working with the Rancho Cordova HART program, a faith-based response to homelessness during cold winter months, Stake volunteers helped with checking in clients, helping store personal items, and visiting with the homeless, a humbling and rewarding experience.
LDS volunteers are never far from our Rancho Cordova community events – whether it is Kids Day, iFest, Fourth of July or Christmas Tree lighting, the big hearts and strong arms of the LDS Missionaries are always a welcome sight during set up.
Because the boundaries of the Stake extend into part of downtown Sacramento, so does the volunteering.
Through Project Linus, blankets were made and provided to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, the Sacramento Children’s Receiving Home and other charities.
Partnering with Uptown Studios, 5,000 pairs of socks were gathered and distributed to the homeless for the cold winter months.
Working with Mercy Pedalers at Loaves and Fishes, the Stake gathered enough hygiene projects, snacks and small amenities to be distributed to homeless people by 25 volunteers hauling goods via bicycle. LDS volunteers gathered enough to stock the program all winter.
The Golden Rule of “Do to others what you want them to do to you”
has long been a guide post for people of faith. It is beautiful to see it put into action as robustly as we do with the volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Cordova Stake.
Welcome to the podium Wayne Langford, president of the Cordova Stake.
Thank you and congratulations!
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