Title: “Willing Hands, Loving Hearts”
Exhibitor: Helen Starley
Description: How to organize and carry to completion a Stake
Humanitarian Project Day. Also, to share some of the things our Stake has accomplished in the last two years.
How To’s: Organization Techniques
I am the Stake Humanitarian Specialist and work with the Homemaking Counselor in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. Each of the nine wards in our Stake has a Humanitarian Specialist. We do two large projects a year. The Wards do something every month in their Enrichment meetings.
We take some suggestions from the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City as to what is most needed at any particular time. Then it is my job to meet with the nine ward specialists. Everyone brings an idea of what they would like to do for the upcoming project. We compare ideas and take a vote on what we think the Stake members would give the most support to. We select a date, clear the building, and do lots and lots of advertising. Each Ward Humanitarian Specialist is assigned a certain part of the project to be done on the day of the event.
Quilts for the Oklahoma Tornado victims, Kosovo, Alcohol Rehab Centers, Kids on the Move, Women’s Crisis Center, new-born babies in our area, Slate Canyon School (court appointed schools), Primary Children’s Medical Center, United Way, and Family Support & Treatment Centers.
Last year we put together 400 quilts for the BYU Women’s Conference. We have just completed putting together 500 quilts for the 2003 BYU Women’s Conference.
We sent 100 each of the following items to Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s “My Stuff Bags” last year: quilts, crayons, coloring books, children’s underwear, combs & brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hand-made knit hats.
Christmas presents to the Missionary Training Center and The Christmas Box House.
Easter Baskets to retirement homes.
Turkeys to Food & Care Coalition.
Approximately 3,000 stocking knit hats (made on a wooden loom) to LDS Humanitarian Center, United Way, court appointed schools for teenagers, lo income apartment complex, Heinselman’s “Kaps for Kids” project (a store in Provo, Utah). Hats were also sent to orphanages in Russia, Armenia, Romania, and were taken by people in our area.
We set aside one night and assigned the YM/YW of each ward one item to collect for their ward members for Hygiene Kits. Each ward was assigned a certain item such as combs, toothbrushes, etc. The Priests and Laurels met at the church and in one hour packaged 360 kits. These were given to the LDS Humanitarian Center.
We have donated puppets to our local fire and police departments. We have made leper bandages, wall hangings, birthing kits, educational kits, and receiving blankets.
Our project last fall: We asked the women of our Stake to share their material stash. We gave each ward patterns of a teddy bear and different shaped balls. They cut them out in their Enrichment meetings and at home. We met on a Stake basis, cut out more, sewed and stuffed 1400 bears and balls. These were given to the LDS Humanitarian Center to be given for Christmas presents. The cost for this project was only for the batting. Everything else was donated.
Contact the United Way Office in your area or the LDS Church Humanitarian Office in Salt Lake City if you need ideas on what to do or what is needed in your area.
REMEMBER: ‘WILLING
HANDS AND A LOVING HEART” IS ALL IT TAKES TO BLESS THE LIVES OF OTHERS!!!
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