News Story

Mormons Receive Appreciation Plaque From Salvation Army in Brampton

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brampton, Ontario, recently received an appreciation plaque from the Salvation Army’s Community and Family Services. Gordon Randell, supervisor of the program, remarked about the Church’s ongoing support. Ecclesiastical leader Scott Goobie, Edward Aguiar, Helen Warner and full-time missionaries Elder Garrison Ganowsky and Elder Miles Anderson accepted the plaque on behalf of the Church at a luncheon attended by more than 100 people.

Full-time missionaries from the Church regularly plant, weed and harvest the Salvation Army Community Garden, which produces approximately 3,000 pounds of vegetables per year. This fresh food goes to the Salvation Army food bank.

Missionaries also help pack Christmas baskets in December and sort and pack other goods throughout the year. In addition, members of the Church collect thousands of pounds of non-perishable goods for the Salvation Army food bank in an annual food drive and, in times of need, have made humanitarian donations.

Gordon Randell said he was particularly grateful that on a day in December, “when we really, really needed it,” a group of missionaries arrived to sing Christmas carols to his staff.

Helen Warner, a member of the Salvation Army’s Community Council and director of public affairs for the Church in Brampton, was instrumental in coordinating the Church’s service to the Salvation Army. She believes it’s good for the missionaries to get outside and work in a garden. “It gives them an opportunity to serve in the community. They’re doing something that’s very, very needed, and it’s also an opportunity for them to reach out to others they are working with.”

The Community Garden is aptly named as it involves local government, business and religious and non-profit organizations. The City of Brampton has been supportive of the work done at the garden. The city not only donated the space for the garden and arranged to have water piped in but also installed a fence around it, and they take care of the plowing. Plants and seeds are all donated by garden nurseries in Peel Region, and the Salvation Army shares the food with the community, giving much needed fresh produce to those who might not have it otherwise.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to provide community service to their neighbours. Mormon Helping Hands volunteers regularly partner with government and non-profit organizations to support and improve the communities where they live.

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