Australia, and in particular Queensland, is notorious for its summer floods which leave many families not only without their homes but also without basic necessities.
Julietta Hartley found herself in this situation during the 2011 Brisbane Floods. She lost everything with her house flooding up to the gutters of her home.
“The help we got was phenomenal, because our insurance didn’t come through for us… but a lot of other people did. So as soon as we heard about this [event] and it was for floods, we were here.”
DOWNLOADBobby Comber, a mother in the ward, said, “I read an article about someone who received one of these [packs] and how it really helped them and made them feel happy and joyous that someone cared for them, somewhere in the world.”
She also brought her children along for the night to help teach them that there is more to Christmas than presents and Santa.
Sheila Gonzalez, from the Australian Red Cross, came to help load the packs into the Australian Red Cross van to be distributed to flood victims.
“I’ve always felt a call to help relieve suffering in the world and to act for humanity. So I am extremely proud that I can do that in Red Cross, given the types of work they do. The Humanity First… it’s a really important quote for me, and it’s my main motivation to have become a social worker and ultimately involved [with the Red Cross],” Sheila said.
Members of the Brisbane Australia Ward (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are a great example of living what the Saviour taught: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).
What better way to honour the Saviour during Christmas?
Isaac Hart said of the night “things like this, are what make Christmas meaningful”.
Area Seventy (regional leader) in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Carl Maurer, said: "I saw in this activity members of the Church seeking to care for those in need. We joined with our friends of the Red Cross to help those who struggle at this special time of year."
He added, "When we minister in temporal ways, we can build both spiritual and temporal self-reliance. It has an amazing effect to bless both givers and receivers."