As 40,000 pounds of food were delivered to Cedar Park, Texas, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were there to help unload the food from a semitruck.
The food came all the way from the Bishops’ Storehouse in Salt Lake City to feed families in need. The volunteers worked outside the Austin Texas Temple, which is under construction in Cedar Park.
Before the food even arrived, members of the Cedar Park Texas Stake, Round Rock Texas Stake and Round Rock Texas East Stake were tasked with finding food pantries in the community to donate the food to. They ended up building connections with 11 total food pantries and community organizations, who each brought their own trucks and vehicles to pick up the food and take it back to distribute.
“This is what community service is all about — coming together to lift others and meet a real need in our community,” said Betsy Lowe, JustServe communication director for the Round Rock Texas Stake. “Forty thousand pounds of food represents thousands of meals and an opportunity for these local organizations to continue the important work they are already doing every day.”
Throughout 2026, as the United States celebrates its 250th year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has celebrated with the donation of 250 food trucks donated to 250 food banks across the country.
Just like in Cedar Park, at many locations as the food arrived, Latter-day Saints stood side by side with neighbors and friends to unload, pack and distribute the food.
“We have been commissioned by Jesus Christ to feed the hungry,” said Adrienne Finch, a JustServe volunteer in Cedar Park. “This initiative is a way to accomplish that and provide relief for those who are struggling.”
Latter-day Saints use the JustServe platform, a free online platform created by the Church to connect volunteers with charitable and nonprofit organizations worldwide. JustServe is available online at justserve.org and on the JustServe app (Apple, Android).
Why service matters
For LaDawn Stoddard, JustServe senior strategic relationships manager, the service done this year as part of America250 has made a real difference in communities by bringing people together.
“That’s what we’re trying to do with JustServe, is help allow service to solve some of those issues in our communities,” she said on an episode of the Church News podcast.
Stoddard said the food donations in particular have helped tackle food insecurity, an issue that is often unseen.
“It’s a significant issue that I think resonates with people,” she said. “It’s something that I think all of us can understand because at some point we’ve all maybe not been extremely hungry but have had to skip a meal and know what that looks like.”
For members of the Church, serving in the community goes beyond even the community benefits. As they care for those in need, they strive to emulate the Savior, Jesus Christ, and follow His two great commandments to love God and love one’s neighbor.
“His whole life was about service, everything that He did,” Stoddard said. “And as we serve, we start to develop a lot of Christlike attributes: compassion, understanding, love for those around us. … It’s a long and lengthy list of things that you start to see in individuals and people as they serve.”
Stephen Bulpitt, JustServe global manager, said this year of caring for those in need has taught him that there’s plenty of opportunities to be the Savior’s hands.
“It has taught me to not worry about my concerns but to really be like the Savior and emulate His light throughout the world,” he said. “And as we do and we act as He did, we become more like Him. You see His light in those that are serving, and so you see disciples in the community living the way He did as they serve.”
Stoddard said one of the goals of the JustServe platform is to help individuals have service “become a way of life.”
“If it is a way of life, you don’t immediately recognize that you’re involved in service,” she said. “It’s just something you naturally do.”
Looking forward, Stoddard said she hopes this year of service will set the standard for years to come.
“The best is yet to come of really caring for those in need, being disciples of Jesus Christ in the community,” she said.
