Red Cross And Church Volunteers

[rockpond]

Love this...

http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile3/57754917-219/cross-red-church-state.html.csp

[Okrahomer]

Love this...

http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile3/57754917-219/cross-red-church-state.html.csp

There were 3 older couples in my ward in Oklahoma who were Red Cross volunteers. Each of them had been called upon to provide relief in the aftermath of various disasters--most notably in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. Does this article imply that the Church is looking at formalizing what individual members are already doing?

[rockpond]

There were 3 older couples in my ward in Oklahoma who were Red Cross volunteers. Each of them had been called upon to provide relief in the aftermath of various disasters--most notably in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. Does this article imply that the Church is looking at formalizing what individual members are already doing?

It says that the Church and the Red Cross have collaborated on projects since 1987. No surprise there. But that this "200 volunteer" initiative is a pilot program beginning in Utah but expected to be a model for the entire nation.

There aren't many details but I wonder if this is a program using the full-time missionaries. Or just members who are called or just make a commitment to serve in the Red Cross.

[cdowis]

The church can call local members for temporary missions.  It's unlikely that these are proselyting missionaries, unless they are using their service hours.

[rockpond]

The church can call local members for temporary missions.  It's unlikely that these are proselyting missionaries, unless they are using their service hours.

 

I thought that I remembered hearing, a couple months back, about a pilot program being run in a mission somewhere in which the missionaries were to provide community service during the day (every weekday), and teach at night.  Does anyone else remember that?  I believe it was discussed here on these boards.

 

As for the full-time missionaries where I live, they seem to be increasing the number of service hours in their schedule but I've never asked if they have specific guidelines.

[Okrahomer]

I thought that I remembered hearing, a couple months back, about a pilot program being run in a mission somewhere in which the missionaries were to provide community service during the day (every weekday), and teach at night.  Does anyone else remember that?  I believe it was discussed here on these boards.

 

You may be thinking of this one--posted by yours truly.

[rockpond]

You may be thinking of this one--posted by yours truly.

 

Yes, thanks.  That's what I was thinking of... 2-hours per day by the full-time missionaries.

 

There hasn't been much talk of the JustServe.org site that the church started but it seems like they may be quietly ramping things up in the background.

[ERayR]

My experience with Red Cross over seven decades has generally been unfavorable.

[rpn]

I heard last week that in before 1920 47000 of the 50,000 red cross members were also Relief Society members.   (It was a quiz for our RS birthday celebration.)