Since its organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sought to care for the poor and needy. LDS Charities was established by the Church in 1996 to enhance Church involvement in relief and development activities throughout the world. Humanitarian projects are funded by donations from Church members and others.
What We Do
LDS Charities has access to the resources of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which include food production and processing, donated used clothing, employment and social services, and the ability to purchase goods locally in many parts of the world. We sponsor relief and development projects in 179 countries. Assistance is rendered without regard to race, religious affiliation, or nationality and is based on the core principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance, and sustainability. Largely run with volunteer labor, we operate both independently and in cooperation with other charitable organizations and governments. More than one million man-days of labor are contributed yearly by volunteers in support of welfare initiatives.
The assistance we provide is made possible by generous donations of cash and in-kind materials from members and friends of the LDS Church.
Emergency Response
LDS Charities strives to provide immediate emergency assistance to victims of natural disasters, civil unrest, or famine. When local resources are strained or nonexistent, LDS Charities provides short-term, life-sustaining resources such as food, water, shelter, clothing, medical, school, and hygiene supplies. This response is accomplished in partnership with local relief organizations and sometimes with other major international organizations. Under the direction of local leadership, LDS Charities volunteers distribute supplies and participate in clean-up efforts to help disaster victims recover.
Clean Water
The Clean Water Initiative reaches over a million people from all faiths, countries, and ethnicities each year as it helps communities with three pillars of health: clean water sources, improved sanitation facilities, and proper hygiene training. With a heavy emphasis on community participation, the initiative organizes an intricate network of both volunteers and temporary staff. Local and easily-repairable equipment is combined with community donations of time, skills, and materials to create fresh water and latrine systems for communities around the world.
Wheelchairs
The Wheelchair Initiative strives to improve mobility, health, and educational and economic opportunities for people with physical disabilities. In cooperation with local organizations, LDS Charities works to improve the services provided to the physically disabled and distribute manual wheelchairs or walking aids appropriate to individual needs and circumstances. Using volunteer trainers, LDS Charities strengthens the capability of local organizations to assess individual needs, select and fit appropriate wheelchairs, train individuals and caregivers, provide support for repair and maintenance, and implement World Health Organization guidelines. Where it's feasible, LDS Charities seeks to support local production of wheelchairs.
Neonatal Resuscitation
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 million newborns die each year of breathing difficulties. The Church provides a train-the-trainer program for resuscitation skills and resuscitation equipment to doctors, nurses, and midwives. In addition to training for medical professionals in advanced techniques, a new level of training has been introduced called “Helping Babies Breathe.” This program helps save the lives of newborns in resource-limited countries.
Vision Care
Over 300 million people worldwide live with low vision or blindness. By improving the quality of eye care treatment delivered by local health care organizations, blindness and visual impairment may be avoided. The Church provides training, equipment, and supplies to assist local eye care professionals and programs. Since 2003, over 550,000 people have benefited from Church vision projects throughout the world.
Food Initiative
The LDS Charities Food Initiative targets families living in urban and rural areas and teaches them sustainable techniques for food production, nutrition, diet, and home food storage. Through demonstration gardens and hands-on workshops, families learn to grow vegetables and fruits or raise small animals appropriate to their circumstances. Workshops are generally taught by local experts who instruct parents and children, sometimes at local primary schools. The Food Initiative helps families become more confident and self-reliant as they develop improved home food production skills and learn about a healthier lifestyle.
Immunization
In countries where disease claims many children’s lives, LDS Charities strives to raise public awareness of nearby immunization sites and campaigns. By doing so, we have seen an increase in the amount of immunized children and a reduction in the number of lives lost to measles, diarrhea, and pneumonia. We work with local organizations to initiate and financially support village parades, TV announcements, pamphlet deliveries, and radio advertisements to publicize the immunizations in the area. This social mobilization movement, in addition to our donations to health ministries and worldwide organizations, advances one of the most vital medical initiatives.
