We are receiving many requests for information on the situation in Haiti. The Church is providing information through its regular information sharing methods.

Additionally, blogs like helpingoutinhaiti.blogspot.com, published by those on the ground in Haiti, sharing their experiences with friends and family through this technology. Take a look and read their accounts of their involvements and efforts.

Check out Current Needs and Destinations updated to the right. Current Needs have remained the same for the month of February.

COMMUNITY NEEDS

Whitney Elementary School has a high percentage of homelessness within their student population. In recent correspondence with them, they expressed needs for the following:

SHOES-Child size 10 to Adult 10 (needed desperately).

SOCKS-Ankle socks-not tube socks

PANTS-size: SM (8), M (10), LG ( 12), XLG (14-16)

UNDERWEAR-all sizes child to adult

SWEATSHIRTS-hoodies-(kids love these)

They also make weekend bags to be sent home with the kids.

They include:

Mini ravioli pop top cups

Top ramen

Slim Jims

Fruit Snacks

Fruit Cups

mini op top vienna sausage cans

granola bars

juice drinks-bags

bottle water

Donations can be taken directly to them or brought to the Humanitarian Service Room, marked specifically for this purpose.

Church Sending Team of Doctors to Assist in Haiti

SALT LAKE CITY14 January 2010 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sending a team of doctors and medical supplies to Haiti immediately to help care for those injured by the devastating earthquake. The doctors will set up a temporary medical center in a Church meetinghouse in Port-au-Prince. The meetinghouse is largely undamaged by the quake.

“We’re finding one of the greatest needs is medical care. Entire hospitals have been destroyed. Medical supplies are scarce. So this temporary medical center will be a tremendous asset,” said Elder Francisco J. Viñas, the area president who oversees the Church in Haiti.

The doctors are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have volunteered their time and skills to assist people in Haiti who are in critical need of medical assistance.

Other urgent needs following the devastating earthquake continue to be water, medical care, shelter and food. The Church is responding to those needs by sending relief supplies in addition to the medical personnel. Some shipments have already arrived, others are in process, and more are being planned.

Two planes, each loaded with 80,000 pounds of supplies donated by the Church, are expected to leave for Haiti on Saturday and Sunday. The supplies on the planes include 15,000 personal filtration bottles, which can each filter and purify 400 gallons of water. Also included in the shipments are food, blankets, hygiene kits, tarps, tents and other necessities. The first flight will leave from Denver on Saturday, 16 January, and the second will leave from Miami that day or the following day. Additionally, hygiene kits and other supplies sent from the Dominican Republic by truck arrived in Haiti on Thursday.

Some of the Church’s meetinghouses in Port-Au-Prince are also being used as temporary shelters for displaced persons.

“Normal daily activity has come to a stop in Haiti. Helping to restore normalcy in the midst of devastation will be our greatest goal. Our focus will be on helping people become self-reliant again.” said Elder Viñas.

The Church continues to monitor the humanitarian situation on an ongoing basis to determine how to best help. Donations for relief efforts can be made athttp://give.lds.org/emergencyresponse.

Church Sends Additional Aid to Haiti Earthquake Victims

SALT LAKE CITY 13 January 2010 In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is mobilizing resources to address the most pressing needs of the people in the Caribbean nation. Images of collapsed buildings and devastated families tell the story of the widespread destruction.

Two planes, one departing from Denver as early as Thursday and another leaving from Miami later this week, will each include over 80,000 pounds of food and emergency resources such as tents, tarps, water filtration bottles and medical supplies donated by the Church. Transportation is being provided by Airline Ambassadors and Food for the Poor will aid with distribution in Haiti.

“We are constantly assessing needs to determine how our resources can directly help the people of Haiti,” said Nate Leishman, manager of the Church’s humanitarian emergency response efforts. “We are fully committed to this ongoing process and doing our best to help wherever we can.”

These new shipments are in addition to emergency supplies, including personal hygiene kits and supplies for newborns, being sent by truck from the Dominican Republic, as announced early Wednesday by the Church.

“We express our sympathy and prayers on behalf of the citizens of Haiti following the recent devastating earthquake,” said Kim Farah, Church spokesperson.

All Latter-day Saint missionaries serving in the country are safe, and Church leaders continue efforts to account for Church members in the area.

Donations for relief efforts can be made at http://give.lds.org/emergencyresponse.

Opportunities to Serve

Often, but especially in this season of reflection, we are asked for suggestions on opportunities to serve. Groups, families and individuals want to express their gratitude for their blessings through giving of them selves. Some of these listings come from our experience with these groups and others by their reputation for doing good in the community.

The Blind Center of Nevada

The Blind Center provides work opportunity and social activities and strives to create a positive social setting and support system for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

1001 N. Bruce Street, Las Vegas, NV, 89101

Phone#: 702-642-6000

Contact: Elise Leos or Ronnie Wilson

Individuals welcome, Groups also.

Types of work tasks for volunteers:

Assist at front desk or with art and music classes, read to clients, help assemble projects, host guests and escort clients to activities. Volunteers with knowledge of computers are also needed.

The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation

The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation works side by side with the medical community to provide social, emotional, educational, financial and psychological support services and programs to families of children with a life threatening or critical illness such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell, hemophilia, renal disorders and other immunologic diseases.

6070 S. eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV., 89119

Contact: Barbara Porter,

Phone #: 702-735-8434,

e-mail: barbara@nvccf.org

Individuals and Groups are welcome.

Min/Max number: All welcome

Types of work tasks for volunteers:

Volunteers are needed to assist with many of the events throughout the year.

Family Promise of Las Vegas

(formerly, Interfaith Hospitality Network) is committed to helping homeless achieve lasting independence, by mobilizing our community to help provide safe shelter, meals, and support services. (a 30-day program to get the children into school, help families acquire housing and employment, and provide healthcare, clothing and furniture.)

Contact:

320 South 9th St., Las Vegas, NV 89101-5511
Phone #: 702-638-8806

e-mail: lvihn@earthlink.net

Volunteers fix or deliver food to host sites, to families, help with general chores and more.

Shade Tree

The Shade Tree meets two needs. First, homeless or abused women and children are offered immediate protection and safety. Next, we help our clients return to a life of stability, dignity, and self-reliance.

#1 West Owens (at Main St.), N.L.V., NV,

Phone #:702-385-0072-ext.105 ,

e-mail: vc@theshadetree.org.

Individuals welcome, Groups also.

Min/Max number: All welcome

Types of work tasks for volunteers:

Tutor GED preparation, banking, math, reading and computer skills and there is also a need for bilingual volunteers as Client Advocates, in Parenting Classes and Life Skills Classes.

Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald House aims to meet guest families’ daily needs by offering a caring environment where sharing families help each other to relieve feelings of isolation and helplessness.

Services include transportation; clothing and personal items; counseling referrals, memorial or legal services; and communication resources with friends and family.

2323 Potosi Street, Las Vegas, NV, 89146

(off of Sahara, west of Decatur)

Contact: Sarah Crichlow,

Phone #: 252-4663, ext 3,

Individuals are welcome. Groups up to 10

Types of work tasks for volunteers:

Volunteers help in preparing meals, light house keeping and help facilitate events.

Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth

The NPHY is a volunteer based program designed to help abused, runaway, homeless youth who may have been subjected to, or are at risk, of sexual exploitation achieve self-sufficiency, stronger independence and reduced isolation through on-going support.

4800 S. Maryland Pkwy, Suite E

“The Safe Place” (at Reno, next to the 7-11)

Las Vegas, NV, 89119

Contact: Larry Lovelett,

Phone#: 702-383-1332.

e-mail: llovelett@nphy.org

Types of work tasks for volunteers:

Staff information desk, answer questions, refer clients to resource facilities, tutor GED preparation, banking, math, reading and computer skills and serve refreshments. Volunteers may also help canvass neighborhoods circulating NPHY flyers for events and services.

University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, (UMC), is a non-profit level 1 Trauma hospital run by Clark County, founded in 1931 and affiliated with the University of Nevada, School of Medicine.

1800 W Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89102

Contact: Suzanne Fain

Phone#: 702-383-2388

e-mail: suzanne.fain@umcsn.com

Individuals or small groups welcome.

Types of work for volunteers: (14 yrs old min.)

“University Medical Center offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for those wishing to make a difference, from patient care to clerical, volunteers can find the right fit for their personality and lifestyle.”

Street Teens

Street Teens is dedicated to meet the survival needs of the homeless, abandoned, and at risk youth, ages 12 and up, in the Las Vegas Valley, by providing basic necessities in a safe, compassionate environment. They provide access to educational, health care, and employment services through the drop-in center and collaboration with community partners.

Contact: Executive Director Lisa Preston
Phone#: (702) 215-4171
e-mail: lisap2003@earthlink.net

e-mail: StreetTeens@Earthlink.net

Fax: (702) 215-4187

Postal address: PO Box 70478
Las Vegas, NV 89170-0478

Individuals or small groups welcome.

Types of work for volunteers:

Administrative duties, including filing, phones, copying, data entry, preparing mailings. Assist with computer usage, tutoring, job searches, mock interviews, employment applications.

If you are interested in providing our homeless teens with a hot meal once a week, month or special occasion, please contact Lisa Preston.

From all of us at the Las Vegas Humanitarian Service Room to all our friends with whom we serve, we wish you a very joyous Christmas and, especially this year, a prosperous New Year. We are so grateful for all those who we work with at the Humanitarian Service Room and in our other callings. We thank you for your selfless service and commitment. We are lifted up by your examples.

We pray that the Lord will bless you in this coming year, that you might receive those things and blessings you stand in need of and desire. Please know that we feel blessed with your friendship.

The Las Vegas HSR Missionaries