This year we spread out our service across several different opportunities.
- In May, we donated to GoFundMe campaigns for six families in Palestine, helping them to provide:
- medical care for injured and sick family members;
- food and education supplies for hungry kids;
- the ability to travel from dangerous and unsafe areas; and
- care for special needs family members.
- Throughout the year we donated to the Las Vegas branch of the DSA. They were able to help support several groups in Las Vegas, including providing food and supplies for homeless people, monetary support for striking workers, and legal aid for immigrants and protestors.
- In September we participated with our stake in Neighbor to Neighbor’s 9/11 National Day of Service. We helped collect and assemble kits for people who had recently struggled with homelessness and who were about to move into a new home. These kits included basic cleaning supplies, towels, shower curtains, laundry pods, and hygiene items, as well as giving them notes to welcome them into their new homes. Eliza and her friend Brooklyn also decided to make additional little notes, with heart drawings and phrases like “You are loved,” “He sees you,” and “You’ve got this” on them, and added them to every basket.
- At Christmastime we joined with other members of our ward for “Operation Christmas Possible.” We received “secret mission” assignments to provide a Christmas gift for three different youth and primary children in the ward who were in need. We had a great time going shopping for the kids and finding presents that, frankly, we were a little jealous of!
- We also went to the Giving Machine again and loved it! We always enjoy the new and different opportunities they have to help others. This time we got:
- 2 chickens,
- Hats and pajamas for pediatric cancer patients,
- Hygiene items for girls,
- Eye care kits and vision screening tests for kids, and
- A set of baby bottles.
Merry Christmas, Grammie and Granddad! We love you! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to intentionally love others each and every year.
Love,
Chad, Denise, Eliza, Henry, and Sadie (plus Finley, Emerald, Christina, Tintaglia, Fish, Midnight, all 10 Zebs, and all 6 snails)