As Elder John Bass and Sister Denise Bass — a senior service missionary couple for the Pueblo Colorado Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — have been serving in their community, they have learned about new needs.
Then they have worked together with organizations to meet those needs while inviting others to join them.
For example, the Basses have been volunteering for One-Way Street Ministry and serving in the Pueblo Soup Kitchen, where Kathy Cline told them about her efforts to organize a Christmas meal distribution in the city for people experiencing homelessness.
The Basses told Pueblo Colorado Stake President Jeffrey Bertoldo about what was needed, and the stake responded — delivering ham, potatoes, green beans and cases of water. Adam Haight and Bishop William Mead of the Pueblo Ward baked 21 loaves of sourdough bread fresh on Christmas morning.
Several other faith organizations were also involved from around Pueblo. Cline said, “What I love about this is it’s ecumenical. It’s all of us. We are all happy to do this.”
That day, missionaries, Church members and JustServe volunteers joined the community and faith organizations to serve meals at five locations around Pueblo and distribute donated coats, hats, socks and hygiene kits.
Five hundred hygiene kits were assembled by missionaries in the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission.
Elder Logan Lerwill from Sugar City, Idaho, said the service was a great way to spend Christmas.
“I’m going to make it a part of my life for the rest of my life,” he said, adding “When serving other people, that’s where I feel the Savior’s love the most.”
Elder William Welsh of Vineyard, Utah, helped sort and distribute donated clothing. “There is one way to really praise the Savior’s birth and that’s through serving. This is what He would be doing,” he said.
While assembling hygiene kits, Sister Miriam Strain from Provo, Utah, was asked how she felt about serving on Christmas day. “Wonderful. It’s the best day to be serving.”
Guests of the event stood in line and were served plates of hot food. During the meal, one man spoke about being laid off from his job and living in a tent. He said receiving a warm meal and clothing made him realize people cared about him.
