2022 Report: Caring for Those in Need

The Church’s 2022 annual report on caring for those in need shows that this work included more than $1 billion in expenditures, 6.3 million hours volunteered, and 3,692 humanitarian projects in 190 countries and territories.

The money went toward fast-offering assistance, humanitarian aid, goods distributed from bishops’ storehouses and Deseret Industries stores, and operations such as farms, food-processing facilities, Family Services counseling, and employment centers.

The largest monetary donations the Church gave in 2022 include $32 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) and $5 million to UNICEF’s global nutrition program, which helps malnourished children.

“Jesus has a tender heart for children,” Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson said when the donation to WFP was announced. “He weeps to see them starve. And He rejoices at even the smallest effort to help them.”

Other significant donations included $5.1 million to the American Red Cross (in addition to more than 1 million units of donated blood from Latter-day Saints) and another $5 million to Rotary International for polio and maternal and neonatal tetanus vaccinations.

The Church also made significant financial contributions to help the rising number of people affected by natural disasters and armed conflict. This included relief to Ukrainian refugees; tsunami survivors in Tonga; storm victims in Kentucky, Florida, and South Africa; and victims of civil conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“The love and desire to help is overwhelming to see,” said Julia, a member of the Church in Austria who helped refugees in several Eastern European countries. “People’s hearts are drawn toward each other.”

The Church also helped bring electricity to a Navajo community in Utah, and Church members worked with Sikhs in a service project in the United Arab Emirates. Latter-day Saints partnered with the NAACP on community service projects for mothers in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and those who need healthful food in San Francisco, California. And Light the World Giving Machines collected funds to buy food and other items for those in need in 28 locations around the world.

The 6.3 million volunteer hours donated in 2022 included service at farms, orchards, canneries, and Deseret Industries stores; missions to care for those in need; and cleanup after natural disasters.

In addition to the 3,692 humanitarian projects, 16,285 new service projects were facilitated by JustServe.org, the Church’s free online volunteer portal available in 14 countries. The tool connects people to service opportunities that match their interests and location.

Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé has called JustServe “a movement and a way that we can live our covenants” and “bless and strengthen [our] community” (in “The Blessings Will Follow: Benefits of Implementing JustServe” [video], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

The Church also continued its environmental stewardship initiatives. Since 2018, Church headquarters has reduced its yearly water consumption by 38 million gallons. More than 500 meetinghouses worldwide now have solar panels. Deseret Industries processed 73 million recycled goods. And the Church’s Print and Distribution Center recycled nearly 4,000 tons of paper, metal, cardboard, and plastic.