Assistance for those in need

The recent disasters in China, Japan, Myanmar and Iowa have prompted countless organizations around the world to lend assistance to those in need. In an effort to meet that need the La Crescenta Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — which serves the communites of La Cañada, organized a hygiene kit humanitarian aid project Saturday morning. More than 100 volunteers were present at the church’s worship center on Wilson Avenue in Glendale to assemble more than 15,000 kits in four hours.

The event began at 7:30 a.m., and by the time it ended at 11 a.m., more than 15,846 kits had been assembled, according to estimates by church staff. The event drew congregations from various faiths, including the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge and the LDS Church La Cañada 1st Ward.

“This is exactly what interfaith dialog is all about,” said Levent Akbarut of the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge.

The church had originally estimated enough donations for 10,000 kits; however, additional donations from church members and the community increased the amount of kits possible — so many in fact, that volunteers quickly ran out of boxes. Project staff, however, were able to quickly remedy the situation by reusing supply boxes around the facility, according to LDS La Crescenta Stake Humanitarian Specialist Cathy Ellingford.

“We are doing this as a community project — it’s a humanitarian project, humanitarian service — to any people anywhere, any faith, any race,” said Scott Draper, a volunteer with the LDS church.

The pallets of hygiene kits will be transported by truck to a bishop’s storehouse in the San Fernando Valley. From there, they will be shipped to disaster areas. Shipments to Myanmar are made through LDS partner CARE International, who has worked in the country for the past 14 years. In addition to the hygiene kits, blankets, tents, water and food will also be shipped.

“Wherever there are natural disasters, and there is a need for this, they [LDS] either send it directly or they team with other organizations,” said Elingford.

The kits, which are designed for up to four people to use, according to LDS public affairs director Lisa Grigg, contain basic toiletries, such as combs, toothbrushes, bars of soap, wash towels and toothpaste, which are sealed in a plastic bag. The kits were assembled in an assembly line fashion; each volunteer was responsible for one or two articles per kit. At the end of the line, the kits were put into a cardboard box, then the boxes were loaded several at a time to a waiting truck — one of three that had departed that morning — outside the church auditorium.

Roberta Daniels of the LDS Verdugo Hills Ward finds it especially positive that congregations from other faiths were able to participate.

“I had fun,” Daniels said. “I think that it’s wonderful that the whole community works together to help other people in other countries and other communities.”

Mohamed Rady of the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge, who with wife, Patricia, and son, Omar, helped during setup for the event Friday night, was impressed with the level of organization and the people of all ages who participated.

“I was very pleased that I was a part of what they did,” Mohamed said. “This is very much our mission, to serve the community. It shows how powerful we can be when we get together to accomplish something.”

This is the first time Mohamed has participated with the LDS church on a project like this.

“I had a lot of fun with it,” said Omar, whose service includes feeding the homeless with his family in downtown L.A. “I met a lot of my friends from school. As a Muslim, I like to help other people that are in need.”

“It does not matter who’s leading this great humanitarian effort as we are all simply acting as servants of God helping victims of a tragedy,” said Akbarut. “It is difficult to imagine anything more righteous than Foothill neighbors coming together for the hygiene kit humanitarian aid project.”

“It lets you feel good. You do. You feel good,” said Daniels.