The plight of people who have been displaced from their homes is close to our hearts. We strive to follow Christ’s instruction to welcome the stranger—both through aid projects and through the service and compassion of our members.
Early in our history, Church members were repeatedly driven from their homes due to religious intolerance. This “refugee heritage” is another reason why many Church members today feel compelled to provide whatever aid they can to help people seeking refuge.
Offering Refuge
In 2022, the world saw a dramatic rise in the numbers of people displaced from their homes by natural disasters and armed conflict. In addition to significant financial donations to refugee assistance programs, Church members worked within their communities to support those who were displaced. “The love and desire to help is overwhelming to see,” said Julia, a member of the Church in Austria. “People’s hearts are drawn toward each other.”
Local Assistance
Around the world, Latter-day Saints volunteered at local shelters and worked with others in their communities to donate, collect, sort, package, and deliver much-needed food, clothing, hygiene items, medical supplies, and other essentials. These donations helped people who were displaced following conflict in Europe and Africa, earthquakes and tropical storms in the Caribbean and Pacific, flooding in Asia and the Middle East, and more. In Canada, Church members hosted a traditional Ukrainian dinner for the community, raising funds for refugee relief efforts.
Emotional Aid
Emotional aid, also known as psychological first aid, is a critical support for people who have experienced a crisis. In 2022, Antonio, a Church member in Portugal, was serving at his local refugee reception center. As part of his service, Antonio received training in psychological first aid. That training taught Antonio how to show compassion and connect with the individuals he served. As he listened to others express their feelings, he felt prepared to empathize, offer hope, and suggest coping strategies.
European Response
Following the outbreak of armed conflict in Ukraine, European Church members showed their commitment to serving others. They organized thousands of beds—many within their own homes—for those displaced by the conflict. The Church worked closely with refugee assistance organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Jesuit Refugee Services to connect displaced individuals with services to meet their immediate needs. In Europe, newly arrived Ukrainians were able to connect with local government agencies for help, thanks to Church members who could speak their language.
Missionaries also participated in providing relief to displaced individuals throughout the world. Missionaries volunteered at reception centers in Poland, Hungary, and Romania, offering language assistance, cleaning the facilities, serving food, and sorting donations. In Germany, missionaries were deployed to train stations, where they carried signs showing the languages they spoke and the help they could provide.
“This is natural,” said Sylwia, a Church member in Poland. “When you see people who need help, you help. ... It doesn’t matter whether you are a member of the Church or not. [Heavenly Father] loves all people.”
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of USA for UNHCR’s most trusted and long-standing partners. Together we continue to restore hope, safety, and dignity to the over 100 million individuals forcibly displaced from their homes due to persecution, conflict, or violence.”