“Sometimes we can get into the mindset that there isn’t any good in the world,” remarked JustServe Specialist Brittany Pratt. She continued, “Being in my [JustServe] calling, I get to see so many people in the community trying their best every day . . . I am in awe of the nonprofits we have in our community who truly care about serving those who need help.” Sister Pratt has been leading out in efforts to unite members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Osceola County with community and interfaith partners to fulfill the two great commandments, to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). As was recently seen on the Global Youth Day of Service, Latter-day Saint youth, their parents, and leaders partnered with members of the Kissimmee First Church of the Nazarene, which provides support to multiple nonprofit organizations, to beautify and revitalize the grounds of their church. The service project is but one example of the good being created and shared throughout Osceola County.
Opportunities to serve in the community are extensive and can sometimes feel overwhelming. Often times, people of goodwill who wish to serve aren’t sure how to start. Using a tool like JustServe can quickly connect volunteers with worthy causes and organizations. “JustServe makes it easier to follow the second great commandment to love one another,” Sister Pratt said. In 2023, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recorded 6.2 million hours of volunteer work around the world. Participating in service not only blesses those who are the recipients of the service but also the individuals who provide the service. Sister Pratt points out, “When you focus on the needs of others, you will have more gratitude, increased confidence, and less depression and anxiety.” Brittany loves to see the smiles on people’s faces when they’re serving others.
Getting involved in worthwhile community projects can be as easy as following a few simple steps (see How to Serve in Your Community):
- Identify a need
- Building meaningful relationships
- Make a plan
- Share your experiences
Simply asking neighbors or friends what service opportunities they’re aware of can be enough to get things started. Once you get started, invite others to participate with you. Many people want to serve and give back to the community but often need a leader to show them how. Even if someone is not able or willing to serve immediately, they can be inspired by the dedicated efforts of others.
“If I could tell [members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] one thing, it would be to make time to serve. If you don’t take the first step and get on JustServe to find a service opportunity, you will see another month go by without serving,” said Sister Pratt. And with another month gone by without serving, the blessings that always accompany service will be missed. There are large and small projects available – some which take a few minutes and others which can take a few hours. From the Lord’s perspective, all service contributes to goodness in the world and provides an opportunity to show others the light of Jesus Christ.
Find service projects by navigating to JustServe.org
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