Service across faiths in Colorado

January 31, 2024

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As Elder John Bass and Sister Denise Bass — a senior service missionary couple for the Pueblo Colorado Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — have been serving of their community, they’ve learned about recent needs.

Then they’ve worked along with organizations to fulfill those needs while inviting others to affix them.

For example, the Basses have been volunteering for One-Way Street Ministry and serving within the Pueblo Soup Kitchen, where Kathy Cline told them about her efforts to arrange a Christmas meal distribution in the town for people experiencing homelessness.

The Basses told Pueblo Colorado Stake President Jeffrey Bertoldo about what was needed, and the stake responded — delivering ham, potatoes, green beans and cases of water. Adam Haight and Bishop William Mead of the Pueblo Ward baked 21 loaves of sourdough bread fresh on Christmas morning.

Several other faith organizations were also involved from around Pueblo. Cline said, “What I really like about that is it’s ecumenical. It’s all of us. We are all comfortable to do that.”

That day, missionaries, Church members and JustServe volunteers joined the community and faith organizations to serve meals at five locations around Pueblo and distribute donated coats, hats, socks and hygiene kits.

Missionaries and volunteers from the Pueblo Colorado Stake and from different faiths prepare to serve a hot meal to those in need in Pueblo, Colorado, Dec. 25, 2023.

Five hundred hygiene kits were assembled by missionaries within the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission.

Elder Logan Lerwill from Sugar City, Idaho, said the service was a fantastic technique to spend Christmas.

“I’m going to make it an element of my life for the remainder of my life,” he said, adding “When serving other people, that’s where I feel the Savior’s love probably the most.”

Elder William Welsh of Vineyard, Utah, helped sort and distribute donated clothing. “There is one technique to really praise the Savior’s birth and that’s through serving. This is what He can be doing,” he said.

While assembling hygiene kits, Sister Miriam Strain from Provo, Utah, was asked how she felt about serving on Christmas day. “Wonderful. It’s the perfect day to be serving.”

Guests of the event stood in line and were served plates of hot food. During the meal, one man spoke about being laid off from his job and living in a tent. He said receiving a warm meal and clothing made him realize people cared about him.