As the world celebrates the International Day of Service, young adults from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are rolling up their sleeves and engaging in hands-on volunteer work across Europe. Two recent projects, in Frankfurt, Germany, and Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, showcase the power of compassion and community.
In Frankfurt, a group of young adults assembled and donated care packages for individuals experiencing homelessness. Each package was filled with essential items such as hygiene products, snacks, socks, and bottled water, and was distributed through Bahnhofsmission, a local homeless charity. The initiative highlighted the impact of small acts of kindness and the desire of young people to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
“It brings a lot of joy,” said one participant, “to know that you’re helping somebody.”
Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, fifty young adults from across Europe volunteered a week of their summer to work at the Dimitar Ekimov School of Arts and Crafts, a school dedicated to serving socially disadvantaged children. From July 26 to August 2, they cleared weeds, rocks, and brush to transform the school grounds into safe and welcoming play areas. Their efforts were not only physical but deeply personal, as they connected with the children and local community.
Eimer Allott from England reflected, "The first thing Jesus did was serve. The Spirit of God we feel here means people are kinder to each other."
Deputy Mayor Georgi Nedev, who supported the project from the start, visited multiple times and remarked that he felt, "warm feelings and the sharing of love."
Theon Grigorov, the local project manager, admitted he was initially daunted by the scale of the work, but said, "It was made easier with the people being so willing to help."
Aleksandar Stoyanov from Sofia shared, "I've never felt that satisfied in my work, as I did in serving these people."
These projects are part of a long tradition of service by young members of the Church, who consistently seek out opportunities to care for the poor and vulnerable. Their efforts reflect values of compassion, generosity, and social responsibility, principles that transcend religious boundaries and speak to a shared human desire to lift others.
As the world marks the International Day of Service, these examples from Frankfurt and Bulgaria remind us that when young people come together with purpose and empathy, communities are strengthened and lives are changed.