Brian Greene, President and CEO, Houston Food Bank
“For several years now The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has canned peanut butter for the Houston Food Bank. They have been incredibly generous, and the members have volunteered many hours to do the canning, donated the use of their equipment and even paid for all the supplies for the peanut butter canning. This has amounted to hundreds of thousands of jars of peanut butter for food boxes going to families in need. This has been an incredible blessing for the food bank as peanut butter is probably the most in-demand product by the 350 charitable feeding programs in southeast Texas served by the Houston Food Bank. I have been very impressed with the sincerity, social concern and generous public spirit of the LDS members we have worked with on this project. Literally tens of thousands of Houston area families have been helped because of the willingness of the Mormon church to step forward and make a difference.”
Bill White, Mayor of Houston
"Houston's Mormon community plays a big part in the spiritual and charitable life of Houston. We'll never forget, for example, how they stepped up in a big way to help us respond to the unprecedented national tragedy of Hurricane Katrina."
Carole Little, CEO, Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM)
"Over the years, LDS members have been an integral part of our coalition, assisting NAM with volunteer hours and food and other in-kind donations to assist NAM's neighbors in need."
Thomas O. Varnell , President/Scout Executive, Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
“We are proud of the longstanding and ongoing partnership we at the Sam Houston Area Council share with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As you know, together we have 295 Scouting programs in southeast Texas that are chartered and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because of your support, approximately 2,500 youth are able to participate in Scouting. On behalf of the Sam Houston Area Council, we want to thank The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for your support and participation in Scouting.”
Wanda Adams, Houston City Council Member
“I would like to thank the Houston-area youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for helping make part of my district a better place to live. On March 8, 2008, LDS youth from around the Houston area volunteered to clean up the Sunnyside area, a neighborhood in my district. Along with my office and Rev. E.R. Curvay from Sunnyside
Missionary Baptist Church, they picked up heavy trash, mowed vacant lots and painted seniors' houses. I was very impressed by their earnest spirit and sincere desire to help the people in our community.”
Edward Lockett, Pastor, Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church, Houston
“Our church burned on Christmas morning in 2005. The very next week, Giff Nielson [LDS Church leader] was over with a check that actually helped us to settle in our new office facilities. I had the keys to two of your church facilities for almost a year, where I could go in an office at any time. And we had a chance to, on a couple occasions, in a small way, reciprocate. We are committed to our friendship and our mutual working together. There is absolutely no reason that we see that we would not work together.”
When asked about those who may be opposed to the Church: “Take the time to get to know members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and/or attend any of their churches in the communities or just know some of those who are working in their community, and they would change their mind.”