Volunteers Help Clear The Way For New Beginnings

ALPHARETTA, GA — Some experiences you never forget. The oppressive heat, the constant drone of insects and, most vividly, the stress-etched faces of the victims of the storm.

This month, local congregations from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent a volunteer group of 146 Church members to assist in the massive cleanup effort resulting from recent U.S. hurricanes. The group, consisting of men, women and teenagers, spent over 1500 hours helping local residents begin to rebuild their lives. Their efforts joined with a larger collection of volunteers from various faiths and organizations throughout the United States.

Recent hurricanes, Michael and Florence, accompanied by high winds, tornadoes and devastating floods have impacted towns, businesses and families in large areas of the coast. The destruction has been catastrophic in many places with property damage estimates topping 28 billion dollars according to the Congressional Budget Office estimates for 2018.

One Church member remarked, “We cannot stop the overwhelmingly destructive powers of a hurricane, but we can help our fellow man recover from the devastation. Caring for our neighbors is an obligation and a privilege incumbent on all persons of faith and, as members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we understand and do our best to practice that concept taught by Christ himself.”

The worldwide Church volunteer group is known as “The Helping Hands”. Easily recognized by their yellow shirts and originating from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregations throughout the world, the group is frequently dispatched to help in natural disasters and other emergencies wherever they occur.

Local Church volunteers from the Alpharetta, Roswell and Milton area organized the current hurricane relief efforts from the needs listed at CrisisCleanUp.Org. The website enables survivors, whose homes have been affected by natural disasters, to coordinate with volunteer relief organizations providing real-time help.

The work for this specific service project consisted primarily of roof tarping and tree and debris removal from the yards and homes of those affected. Which is the first step in building a new future for the affected families.

Participants brought back stories of the pain and destruction disproportionately impacting the elderly and less-advantaged in the area.

“The collective sentiment of our volunteers was this work assignment was the hardest we have received in years. The devastation throughout the area was extensive and beyond description. The individual and collective need is seemingly endless...” said Church volunteer Daniel Lister. He reported that for every work order they filled, there were 50 more homes that needed help.

On a positive note, volunteer Amy Brewer observed “Something I've found as I've been able to help with hurricane cleanup is that while hurricanes destroy a lot of things, the one thing that they actually build is relationships. I can't describe what a wonderful experience it is to be able to see people from all different backgrounds come together to help each other out. It definitely strengthens my testimony that we are all brothers and sisters and that God wants us to love and serve one another.”

More information on worldwide volunteer effort at: https://www.mormonnewsroom.org...