Thanks to Cari Larkins for this Guest Post all about the new JustServe initiative!
What is JustServe?
JustServe is a new, inspired initiative sponsored by the
Church. It is not a program, but an initiative created to assist Church members
and missionaries in following the admonition of the Savior to “love thy
neighbor as thyself.” JustServe provides opportunities for Church members, missionaries
and anyone else in the community to relieve suffering, care for the poor and
needy, and enhance the quality of life in the communities around them.
JustServe is intended to fundamentally change the culture of
the church when it comes to service. This initiative is intended to help
members create relationships and learn to value experiences serving outside of
the church, in their communities.
How does JustServe work?
JustServe is a website and an app for mobile devices. The
website/app can be used by anyone in community, whether Latter-day Saint or
not. Users can enter a zip code or the
name of a city and state where you are interested in finding service
opportunities. You can peruse the site
to locate opportunities that might be appropriate for you, your family, quorum,
class, ward, branch or scout troop, school or any other group. Clicking on the
opportunity will provide you with more details about each listing.
Once you find an opportunity that you’re interested in,
click “Volunteer.” This will either redirect you to the organization’s own website
for more information, or enable you to send a message to that organization’s
point of contact to let them know you’re interested in volunteering.
How can Church members be expected to participate in
JustServe when they have so many other things to do?
There are no quotas or record keeping associated with
JustServe. JustServe is a tool that can make it easier for Latter-day Saints to
better do that which they are already trying to do—love their neighbors,
improve their communities, serve others and be an example.
President Monson has said, “We have a responsibility to be
active in the communities where we live . . . to work cooperatively with other churches
. . . It’s important that we eliminate the weakness of one standing alone and
substitute for it the strength of people working together.”
JustServe is intended to make it easier for individuals,
families, quorums, classes, groups etc., to find meaningful service
opportunities close to home.
What are the motives of JustServe projects?
There are no underlying motives in serving. Neither Church
members nor missionaries should volunteer in the community as a guise for
proselytizing. Our motive should be a pure desire to help others in need, regardless
of their beliefs.
President James E. Faust said, “I don’t think our motivation
for service and community relations ought to be proselyting. I think it ought
to be trying to make the world a better place in which to live. Of course, we
are happy to share the gospel with anyone who is sincerely interested. But it
ought to be a happy consequence of what we’re doing, not the primary motivation
for it.”
JustServe service opportunities focus on non-profit
organizations or group. JustServe projects don’t involve fund-raising or have a
political focus.
The Stake JustServe Committee has spent the last several
months contacting service organizations and churches within the stake
boundaries, which either need or provide volunteers. Members of the committee
work with these organizations to post their opportunities on the site. No
service opportunities are posted to the site without the permission of the
organization.
If you’re aware of a service opportunity or organization that
you think would benefit from JustServe, contact your ward/branch JustServe
specialist or the Stake JustServe coordinator, Cari Larkins at carryoncarryon@gmail.com.
Why JustServe.org when there
are already other volunteer websites that do the same thing?
JustServe is a first presidency-endorsed initiative. While there are other websites that function
like JustServe.org (VolunteerHoward.org), JustServe is a nationwide program and
will hopefully be easily- recognized and known by more and more communities
throughout the country. It is the website that members of the Church and full-time
missionaries serving in missions in the States will be encouraged to use as
their resource for community service opportunities.
What do I do to start participating in the JustServe
initiative?
Visit JustServe.org or download the free app. Register for a
free account. Enter your zip code and check out some service opportunities in
your area. If you’re familiar with the opportunities that are on the site in
your area, you will be better prepared for occasions when groups, quorums,
classes, your family are looking for meaningful service opportunities.
