News Release

Mormon Helping Hands Serving at 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

At the request of Brazil's Ministry of Sports, around 1,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil are volunteering their time to help Brazil host the 2014 World Cup.

Mormons and their friends—those18 years old and older—are taking part in Brazil Volunteer, the volunteer force behind this year's World Cup and other events such as the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. They’re trained to receive visitors at airports and work at tourist sites and other popular locations during the World Cup, which lasts from June 12 through July 13.

For nearly two decades, the Church has been known throughout Brazil for its many Mormon Helping Hands (MHH) projects—community service projects that often involve hundreds and even thousands of Latter-day Saint volunteers.

In 2013, Sarah Menezes, then national coordinator for Brazil Volunteer, worked with MHH volunteers during the Confederations Cup and was impressed by their service. “[Mormon] Helping Hands volunteers are the most organized and dedicated,” she said. “We need you at the Cup."

As a result, representatives of Brazil's Ministry of Sports approached the Church about providing volunteers for the 2014 World Cup.

Over the years, Mormon Helping Hands volunteers in Brazil and throughout the world, have cleaned city parks, refurbished public schools, assembled and donated materials for newborn baby kits and provided other service in their various communities. In 2013, Mormon Helping Hands volunteers came to the rescue, helping their friends and neighbors clean up their homes and remove debris following the heavy rains in southeast Sao Paulo. They also donated blood on a nationwide “Helping Hands” day, partnering with blood collection agencies throughout Brazil.

Here in India World Cup fever has taken hold and right alongside is the Mormon Helping Hands program.  During this month of International football members of The Indian Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) will be providing like service as their counterparts in Brazil. Wearing their iconic yellow vests showing two hands clasped in friendship they will be assisting with assembling hygiene kits for abandoned women in Delhi and setting up a sewing school in Palam.  In Rajahmundry they will be providing essential supplies to orphaned children.  Like their love of football, their love of service to others in need is never ending.

The Mormon Helping Hands program of the Church, carried out here in India and many other parts of the world, reflects the desire of Latter-day Saints to follow the example of Jesus Christ by selfless service to others. 

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