Sponsor Spotlight
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
In April, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Oakland chose to be a high-level sponsor of Rebuilding Together Oakland. Through their annual Mormon Helping Hands event, they have a rich history of taking on large service projects, and this year sent out a giant volunteer team to paint and do yard work at the Fred Finch Youth Center (Check out photos from their project!). Don Sherwood, the Director of Public Affairs, spoke with us about their experience. We are very grateful for their hard work and support!
Rebuilding Together Oakland: How did you find Rebuilding Together Oakland, and why did you choose to engage with us?
Don Sherwood: We were looking for service opportunities around the April time frame and found National Rebuilding Day on April 27th. The project you suggested at Fred Finch Youth Center was ideal for us especially given the location down the hill from our Temple in Oakland. RTO offered the best way by which we could ensure a great experience for our volunteers and charity.
RTO: This April was your first project with RTO, correct? It is clear that you did an incredible amount of work! How did April go for your team?
DS: It was our first experience with RTO but we have a lot of experience with service projects. Mormon Helping Hands is an annual event where members of our church are able to make a difference in our local communities and put in action what is taught on Sundays, which is "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)
RTO: What was the most challenging part of the project?
DS: We were worried about the arrival of 200-300 on site all at once. We wanted to make sure everyone knew where to go and could get to work quickly. We settled on a staggered arrival system that helped a lot. We also wanted to make sure those that could not provide physical service had an opportunity to participate. In our case, they provided food and made quilts. It was very important that everyone was able to help.
RTO: What was the most fun?
DS: The most fun was to actually do the work. Because the event was well planned and organized, with the help of RTO, there was a job for everyone, and everyone felt needed and that their efforts would make a big difference to disadvantaged youth and their great leaders. It was also a great thing that Fred Finch leaders were able to visit our churches leading up to the project. This helped put a face to the project and it was wonderful for us to be able to welcome FFYC staff into our chapels.
RTO: What will you remember?
DS: It was a great thing for us to be visited by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Councilmember Libby Schaaf and a representative from Assemblyman Rob Bonta's office. On a personal note, for Father's Day my wife presented me with a plant that she grew from a cutting of plants we cut down at FFYC. It is highly symbolic to me of the resilient human nature. That through trials and challenges we can become stronger. But by serving others we can put aside our own difficulties and be lifted higher by helping others up too, like a beautiful plant growing from leftover weeding.
RTO: What would you say to other community groups who are thinking about sponsoring a homeowner or facility through RTO?
DS: I believe that most organizations greatly underestimate the challenge of organizing large groups to render meaningful service. Rebuilding Together Oakland has many years of experience, not to mention all the equipment and community connections for discounted material. Giving service should benefit the recipient and the provider, and does with the assistance of great partners like Rebuilding Together Oakland.
Thank you for your service and support, Don and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints team! We could not do it without you.
Rebuilding Together Oakland: How did you find Rebuilding Together Oakland, and why did you choose to engage with us?
Don Sherwood: We were looking for service opportunities around the April time frame and found National Rebuilding Day on April 27th. The project you suggested at Fred Finch Youth Center was ideal for us especially given the location down the hill from our Temple in Oakland. RTO offered the best way by which we could ensure a great experience for our volunteers and charity.
RTO: This April was your first project with RTO, correct? It is clear that you did an incredible amount of work! How did April go for your team?
DS: It was our first experience with RTO but we have a lot of experience with service projects. Mormon Helping Hands is an annual event where members of our church are able to make a difference in our local communities and put in action what is taught on Sundays, which is "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)
RTO: What was the most challenging part of the project?
DS: We were worried about the arrival of 200-300 on site all at once. We wanted to make sure everyone knew where to go and could get to work quickly. We settled on a staggered arrival system that helped a lot. We also wanted to make sure those that could not provide physical service had an opportunity to participate. In our case, they provided food and made quilts. It was very important that everyone was able to help.
RTO: What was the most fun?
DS: The most fun was to actually do the work. Because the event was well planned and organized, with the help of RTO, there was a job for everyone, and everyone felt needed and that their efforts would make a big difference to disadvantaged youth and their great leaders. It was also a great thing that Fred Finch leaders were able to visit our churches leading up to the project. This helped put a face to the project and it was wonderful for us to be able to welcome FFYC staff into our chapels.
RTO: What will you remember?
DS: It was a great thing for us to be visited by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Councilmember Libby Schaaf and a representative from Assemblyman Rob Bonta's office. On a personal note, for Father's Day my wife presented me with a plant that she grew from a cutting of plants we cut down at FFYC. It is highly symbolic to me of the resilient human nature. That through trials and challenges we can become stronger. But by serving others we can put aside our own difficulties and be lifted higher by helping others up too, like a beautiful plant growing from leftover weeding.
RTO: What would you say to other community groups who are thinking about sponsoring a homeowner or facility through RTO?
DS: I believe that most organizations greatly underestimate the challenge of organizing large groups to render meaningful service. Rebuilding Together Oakland has many years of experience, not to mention all the equipment and community connections for discounted material. Giving service should benefit the recipient and the provider, and does with the assistance of great partners like Rebuilding Together Oakland.
Thank you for your service and support, Don and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints team! We could not do it without you.
