Caring Summary 2024—Emergency Relief

Global emergencies such as natural disasters or civil conflict bring many challenges, including needs for shelter, food, and water; disaster clean up; and emotional support. During crises, the Church aims to foster hope and resilience by providing both physical aid and psychological support to anyone in need.

Psychological First Aid

Psychological first aid helps individuals and communities in crisis learn how to cope with emotional distress. Through its Family Services organization, the Church has offered on-site psychological aid to many members affected by crises. In the Pacific Islands, Family Services staff members coordinated mental health resources for individuals who were dealing with political turmoil. These efforts helped many members of the Church manage their emotional distress and offer support to others.

The Church also provided on-site emotional aid to members affected by natural disasters in 2024, including the torrential floods in Porto Alegre, Brazil; deadly wildfires in Chile; and the raging California Park Fire. This psychological aid strengthened affected individuals by reducing initial distress and fostering coping skills.

Family Services staff also prepare areas before crises hit. Local Church leaders can reach out to their Family Services consultants to organize emotional preparedness training in their wards and stakes. For example, Family Services employees Teresa and Sonia trained youth in Cape Verde on principles of psychological first aid, resilience, and emotional preparedness, equipping them for emergencies.

Additionally, the Church often collaborates with various organizations to provide emotional support to anyone in crisis. In Honduras, the Church supported Project HOPE in their efforts to provide emotional first aid displaced individuals. This collaboration reached many in need, offering them compassionate support during difficult times.

Physical Aid

During emergencies, the Church and its members provide physical aid for those in need, regardless of their religious affiliation. In Lebanon, the Church supported displaced families by donating over 10,000 needed items, including food parcels, hygiene kits, and handheld solar lights. In Romania, resettled Ukrainians struggled to find jobs due to language barriers and lack of available childcare. The Church donated food and hygiene kits and hot meals to Asociatia La Rascruce, which the organization distributed to Ukrainians in need, even implementing a system to deliver the hot meals to homebound older adults.

In Chile, the Church and multiple aid organizations worked together to provide relief for people affected by devastating forest fires. Temporary educational and food distribution sites were established in the affected areas. Church members in Viña del Mar, Quilpué, and Valparaíso volunteered to distribute supplies and assist in cleanup operations. The Church also made significant donations to support the affected families.

Serving Together in the Philippines

Several disasters took place in the Philippines in 2024, including a super typhoon, a volcanic eruption, fires, and the drought effects of El Niño. The Church and the government’s emergency response services provided relief goods, and local members offered their time, effort, and love to ensure these goods were packaged and distributed.

Cebu City acting mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia shared his gratitude for the Church’s aid: “The city government is here to help and serve its constituents, but we know we cannot help everyone. So today, we can see how our partners, the private sector, and the Church help us do this part of our job. Because of institutions like yours, it makes our job easier, so we thank you very much for your donation to our constituents, especially the mountain barangays.”