The Prescott Valley Arizona Stake Relief Society offers monthly service luncheons
In 2016, the Prescott Valley Arizona Stake Relief Society began offering monthly service lunches for “big sisters” who might be lonely, explained LaDawn Dalton, a ServeNow specialist in the Prescott Valley Arizona Stake. Thus an idea was born to create a connection for older women in Prescott Valley, Arizona, and has now expanded into a years-long service effort.
Since that first lunch, the women’s group has carried out service projects and made donations too numerous to count. Going to SirveAhora.org, which is a website and app that lists the needs of community organizations and matches those groups with volunteers. “These sisters have literally given light to many organizations in need through ServeNow,” said Dalton.
Some of these efforts include:
- Make baby bows
- Collect books for school libraries
- Sew Teacher Appreciation Baskets
- Give Trauma Teddy Bears to Fire Stations
- Give away school supplies and paper to teachers
- Provide supplies to the local mental health center
- Collect pillows and blankets for the homeless shelter
- Find craft supplies and other requests for a special needs preschool
- Donate food and snacks for healthcare workers and first responders
- Providing food to the hungry through food banks and the Hungry Kids program
- Collect bandages, underwear, snacks, cough drops and more for the school nurses
Dalton said each ward in the stake provided a committee member to help organize potlucks and decide which service opportunities to participate in that month. “There is a palpable feeling of joy and unity at these lunches,” he said. “It’s so inspiring to feel the power of a group of women coming together for a worthy cause and building each other up and providing hope at the same time.”
Similarly, Dalton Dalton said that news of what this group is doing is starting to catch on throughout the community. They have made sure that others know that the entire community is welcome to come eat and serve together.
The women connect with each other as they share memories and talk about their childhood. They also have love for the people they serve in the community through service projects. “Find a project in www.sirveahora.org and then you can appreciate what they feel,” Dalton said. “Pure joy!”
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