Volunteering the Write Way

by Linda McMillian

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga— It all began as a puzzle: How to give volunteer service to individuals in our local area when you cannot physically be in the community? And, who would be in the greatest need of service? That was the COVID-19 service quandary facing representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Roswell GA Stake (diocese).

The elderly in nursing and assisted living homes, it was determined, presented an especially vulnerable population. Feelings of isolation and loneliness would only be exacerbated by the social restrictions currently required to maintain the health of individuals living in the facilities.

Post Office delivered letters proved to be the old-fashioned answer to the current modern problem. Also, it was a form of communication that would be safe, comfortable and easily accessible to an elderly population, including any who lacked computer literacy.

After an extended search, the Church volunteers determined that Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit II in Sandy Springs was one of the Senior Centers with relevant diversified activity programs. Activity & Volunteer Coordinator, Brianna Panosian, gave the group the names of six residents who were interested in taking part in the letter writing efforts. She served as a bridge for all of the resulting correspondence.

Auxiliary groups, within the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were tapped to serve as writers. Leaders asked for volunteers to send letters, cards and photographs to their new community pen pals.

One Sunrise resident, Cap, responded to the eleven letters he received enthusiastically. The Activity & Volunteer Coordinator said, “Cap was thrilled and already has written back a general letter to the group and then said he plans to write individual letters… I cannot tell you how much it meant to him and the smile it brought to his face."

The Church members checked back regularly with the facility to ensure that those who wanted to receive correspondence, were in fact, receiving the mail that was sent.

Panosian reported, “Everyone is receiving letters and loving it! Cap has me sending out 5 more letters today to the group that wrote to him, he has been so excited about all of this. The ladies have also really enjoyed getting to know you through your letters; they are so impressed by all your life experiences.”

According to Latter-Day Saint June Casella, “It has been a joy communicating with these Sunrise residents. They have shared their life stories with us, and we have shared our life stories with them. We are not proselytizing—we are reaching out to give love and comfort. We are making new friends. One resident had mentioned that he was planning to write his life story and that this gave him a chance to write it down and do so. Their letters are very precious to us, as they share their life experiences."

In itself, it is a small effort, but it provides a window into a much larger aspect of the Christian group. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an established history of member volunteerism following the admonition of Christ to “love one another”, a belief central to their faith.

Members of the Church spend a significant amount of time in service within the Church itself and in community service, according to a report by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The study found that, on average, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints members spend 430 hours a year in Church related service and secular community service, which is 6 to 8 times more than the amount the average American (who volunteers) contributes. See more mid-article: https://www.pewforum.org/2012/...

To assist others in volunteering within local communities throughout the United States, the Church designed and maintains a free website (JustServe.Org) to help connect potential volunteers with nonprofits needing help regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. The website currently also lists additional optional service alternatives during the pandemic.

In addition to member's volunteer service, the Church itself donated almost $1 billion dollars last year to humanitarian programs helping victims of disaster and poverty worldwide. Programs administered emergency relief and long-term aid with food, shelter, medical supplies, clean water initiatives, ect. See more: https://www.thechurchnews.com/...