VIDEO: Young Volunteers Travel 450 km to Help with Clean-up After Whanganui Floods

A group of young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints travelled from Auckland and Hamilton last week to assist Whanganui locals ravaged by recent floods.

Project organiser, Atarangi Anderson, used Facebook to appeal for volunteers and support to assist in the long-distance “Mormon Helping Hands” service project.

Church members from around the Auckland area responded to the Facebook appeal by donating tools and food to assist the volunteers in their clean-up efforts. 

The young adults teamed with local Whanganui community volunteers to assist Taupo Quay businesses in disposing of flood-damaged items, clearing mud and silt as well as salvaging materials. 

Atarangi’s desire to organise the project, she says, was inspired by the example of Jesus Christ.

“He [Jesus Christ] was the ultimate kind of person and advocate for love, and I think when people we love, or just people in the world go through trials, helping them or giving them service is a way of showing Christ’s love.”

The “Mormon Helping Hands” program brings together members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their neighbours to provide community service.

These volunteers in their trademark yellow shirts help people whose lives have been affected by natural disasters and other emergencies.

Click here to find out more about the "Mormon Helping Hands" program.