BRAZIL — Sixty thousand Brazilian members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have concluded a four-month-long service project that provided aid to over 200 hospitals in 150 cities throughout Brazil.
Church members used their available free time to hold workshops and sewing bees in which they produced approximately 150,000 items to be donated to local hospitals. The items included bedsheets, shoe coverings, gowns, pillowcases and infant clothing.
Items such as bedsheets are scarce for many hospitals in Brazil as most funds go toward medications, hospital equipment and employee salaries. And since hospital clothing is subjected to sterilization up to four times daily, the clothing has to be replaced frequently.
In one month Restauração Hospital in Recife admits 800 patients, performs 700 surgeries and treats 12,000 outpatients and 12,000 emergencies. Hospital director George Teles was happy to receive supplies from the Church. "We give thanks for any help we get, since we always work beyond our patient capacity," he remarked. "Now we will have some breathing room in terms of bedclothing changes."
Not only did members of the Church sew clothes and bedsheets, they also volunteered their time. Presentations were given to school-age children to teach them the importance of assisting others. Others worked in hospitals providing service wherever needed.
"I derive great satisfaction from participating in this work," said Givaldo do Nascimento, a local Church leader. "It’s true that we get home tired, but we feel the satisfaction of having made others happier and more comfortable."