Finding Opportunities to “Just Serve”

Service is a core principle of many religious traditions. In Little Rock, finding opportunities to “just serve” in the local community is easier than ever with the help of a new website from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often referred to as “Mormons.” This worldwide website, at www.justserve.org, allows users to search for service opportunities by location and then browse opportunities near them. Users can pick local service opportunities that fit their schedules and abilities.

“Everyone wants to serve, but many people don’t know where to start,” says Karen Beheshti, a local member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a volunteer coordinator of the service opportunities listed on the website. “Whether you only have an hour or you are trying to find a service opportunity for a large group, the Just Serve website is a great resource.”

Annmarie Worthington recently used the site to locate a service opportunity she could do with her children. On November 4th, Annmarie and three of her children, ages 9-17, went to the West Little Rock Easter Seals Wellness & Training Center on Cantrell Road to help the Easter Seals pack meals to be distributed by local charities to Arkansas families in need. Annemarie said, “We helped them pack over 15,000 meals. I loved being able to participate as a family to give service to others. The kids want to do it again!”

The Just Serve website is free and available for use by anyone. Interested individuals can navigate to www.justserve.org, enter their location information, and choose a service opportunity. Community organizations can also add service opportunities—including ongoing opportunities or one-time opportunities related to a particular event or project—by contacting Karen Beheshti at [email protected].