Over 100 yellow-vested volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lent a helping hand in Westport, New Zealand during a recent Mormon Helping Hands service project.
The enthusiastic group travelled by bus and vans from Nelson, Blenheim, Hokitika and Greymouth to serve the community of Westport, tidying up the Orowaiti Cemetery and helping repair the Kawatiri Walkway at Westport’s North Beach.
President Trevor Charles Kohu, leader of the Nelson District of the Church explained, “We partnered with the friends of the Kawatiri Walkway. I issued the call for volunteers and was happy to see so many members, including families and our youth, show up eager to serve the community of Westport.”
Approximately fifty of the volunteers worked with Westport Deep-sea Fishing School students to trim back overgrowth of blackberry and gorse bush along the walking path and to transport gravel used to repair holes.
The remaining volunteers mowed grass from walkways, cleaned headstones, and did general weeding and cleanup at the Orowaiti Middle Cemetery.
Before heading back to their respective homes, volunteers enjoyed a barbeque and competitive games of volleyball at the local Westport Latter-day Saint Chapel.
"A lot of community work was done, friendships were made,” said President Kohu. “And those who participated, although they would have felt tired on the way home, would have felt the joy of serving."
Mormon Helping Hands is a program that brings members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint together with their neighbours to provide community service and disaster relief to those in need. It provides organized opportunities for Church members to give their time and talents to bless those in need. It also gives members the opportunity to beautify city streets, parks, schools, and recreational areas and to serve in other ways.