The Mormon Land newsletter is The Salt Lake Tribune’s weekly highlight reel of news in and about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Join us on Patreon to receive ad-free podcast episodes, the full newsletter and access to all of our religion content.

The volunteer spirit

Sharon Eubank, the church’s humanitarian director, was on hand recently when the Utah-based faith delivered 20 tons of food to South County Outreach in Irvine, California.

There, young Latter-day Saints and other volunteers helped load the commodities for distribution to nearly a dozen charities.

Such service is “definitely a better use of your time than just being on your phone,” blue-shirted JustServe volunteer Henry Takagi said in a news release.

The shipment was part of the church’s sweeping effort to provide 250 truckloads to 250 food banks across all 50 states this year in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

“In humanitarian service, we have cash, we have commodities like the food today,” Eubank said, “but the most powerful thing we have is people. Relationships are what make the difference.”

Helping others is a SNAP

Recipients of aid from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program face new work requirements.

OK, argues By Common Consent blogger Sam Brunson, then let their church volunteer hours count toward that mandate.

“This isn’t cheating the system,” he writes. “…Church members are doing service work that should qualify under the terms of the law. And they should get credit for the work.”