The Stakes in our area partnered up with Catholic Charities in Illinois to gather donations to 180 Afghan Refugee families that were scheduled to be relocated in Southern Illinois later this month. Some stakes were asked to collect winter gear, furniture, kitchen supplies, and other needed goods. Our stake was asked to collect baby items.
Our Bishop asked me if I knew someone in our ward we should make the point person for our ward, and I just volunteered myself. The situation in Afghanistan really tugged at my heart, and I was happy to have a concrete way to help. It was heartwarming to see all the donations that came at this busy, expensive time of year. I was humbled to see both those with plenty of means donate a lot and those with very limited means donate what they could. About 20 families in our ward donated the following items: 25 boxes of diapers (in 8 different sizes, equaling about 2,700 diapers), 10 pack and plays with several sheet sets, 12 boxes of wipes (totaling 74 packages in all), more than 200 bottles of pain medications, and more than 40 bottles of baby soaps and shampoos.
I loved dropping all of the items off at the stake center and being able to see 6 of 10 wards' worth of donations. What a blessing this will be to those families. What a blessing it was for me to be a part of it.
1 comment:
It is so gratifying to see true charity!
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