Over 6,100 volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Southeastern United States arrived in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina to help homes and houses of worship affected by Hurricane Helene. Among them were 93 volunteers from the St. Cloud Florida Stake in Osceola County  who served residents in Lake City, Florida.

In their trademark yellow shirts and vests, volunteers cleared debris, mucked out homes, and brought hope with them everywhere they served.

“To be able to serve others brings us closer to God and His Son Jesus Christ,” says President Jonathan Gooch, St. Cloud Florida stake president. “Serving is divine, and it deepens our love for others, even for those whom we may have just met.” 

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ volunteered their time and traveled at their own expense to aid those in need.

Latter Day Saints St. Cloud
Latter Day Saints St.Cloud
Church of Latter Day Saints
Since 1998, Church volunteers have helped people worldwide whose lives have been affected by natural disasters and other emergencies. Thousands of volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assisted communities with cleanup after the flooding in Eastern Kentucky, numerous tornadoes throughout the South, fires in California, and Hurricanes Idalia, Ian, Ida, Katrina, Ike, Gustav, Isaac, Matthew, Michael, Florence, Laura, Sally and many others.
 
St. Cloud resident and church member Scott Quigley was grateful for the opportunity to serve with his father and two teenage kids. “We lost my mom last November, and my wife at the end of August. This was a great experience for my kids to go out and serve people—to see how grateful others were, not just for the help, but also to see that they were not forgotten and abandoned,” he said. “It is too easy to get caught up in our own lives, our own selves, our own headspaces, and our own problems….Opportunities like this strengthen our resolve to participate in God’s great plan instead of just standing idly by and watching it play out.” 
 
In total 3,018 work orders (1 order = 1 home) were completed by volunteers in areas devastated by Hurricane Helene. The Church also sent trucks of supplies to the area in preparation for the cleanup effort. 
 
“Overall, our stake contributed more than 1,200 hours of assistance to residents in Lake City,” said President Adam Zern, a counselor in the St. Cloud Florida stake presidency. “Yes, members sacrificed their time to be here, but it’s overwhelming to see what can be accomplished by many willing hands.”