More than 70,000 Latter-day Saints and their friends in California and Hawaii donned Mormon Helping Hands vests and went to work April 28, completing 536 projects and logging 230,000 service hours.
"Mormon Helping Hands 2012 was a wonderful success!" said Bill Marble who served as chairman of the day of service for the North America West Area. "Municipalities everywhere are struggling to maintain important community services and facilities. Many not of our faith joined with our wonderful members. We have forged enduring partnerships with community leaders, elected officials and other faith groups through this unique day of service in California and Hawaii."
Mayors, council members, state legislators and county supervisors expressed gratitude for the help given the community by Church members from 220 stakes during the 4th annual Mormon Helping Hands Days of Service.
One park manager shared that "the work done in one day at Kit Carson Park in Escondido, Calif., could not have been accomplished in weeks or months by the city maintenance crew." He added "with the budget cuts within the State, this becomes very important to communities to have volunteers provide this kind of service."
In San Francisco, at the National Cemetery at Presidio Park, rows of white headstones were carefully washed and cleaned. The Presidio Interfaith Chapel was refurbished with a new coat of paint, cleaning and installing cabinets.
In Hawaii, most projects focused on beach clean-up, removal of debris and general maintenance, giving hundreds of miles of coastline a fresh look.
"We want to thank the city officials at these projects because they have given us an opportunity to serve," said Elder Nelson D. Cordova, an Area Seventy. "This helps us, not only to come together as members of the Church, but also as members of the community."
Elder Cordova said through service, Latter-day Saints can communicate what they believe. "We are your neighbors. Service, helping our fellowmen, helping our neighbor, that is what we are all about."
Many members gathered at Enterprise Park in South Central Los Angeles.
Members of the Inglewood California Stake painted the outside of an older recreational center, a very large gym, and other smaller buildings at the park. They also planted more than a hundred plants and cleaned around and mulched all of the existing large trees in the park.
"I'd like to thank the LDS Church for coming in and helping us renovate one of our intercity parks," said Ron Cox, facilities operations and craft manager for L.A. County Parks and Recreation. "I didn't expect this many people to be here today. It really shows how much the Church is willing to help. This work adds a lot to the community; it beautifies a key area for everyone to enjoy. It's an extraordinary event today. It promotes unity, and with unity you get success."
Members of the Cypress California Stake worked on projects at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Military Base.
"These Helping Hands are showing support to the military," said Michael Aguirre, Chief Warrant Officer at the base. "This kind of volunteer effort saves the taxpayers a lot of money. We don't have the manpower to do this kind of operation. ... They've done a lot in a short period of time. I didn't think they would move this fast. I had to bring in some more empty trash dumpsters from around the base."
Other members gathered at the Great Park in Irvine, Calif. — planting 600 citrus trees to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank, installing vertical planters to allow disabled visitors access to agricultural areas, constructing 400 raised planters for a community garden, and helping construct an amphitheater and fire ring.
"I think this is wonderful," said Jeff Lalloway, a member of the Irvine, Calif., city council. "We are so pleased they came out today in force to help at the Great Park. We have a lot to do. All the budgets today are strained, at every level of government, so volunteerism is very important to the community. The LDS Church understands it, and I am very thankful for their help."
Joan Coleman of El Segundo, Calif., said serving with other Latter-day Saints gave her a good feeling. "I like Mormon Helping Hands because it brings all the wards in the stakes together and it's nice to give back to the community," she said.
