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| Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson participates in the roundtable discussion on the Church's humanitarian efforts at the Los Angeles Temple Visitors’ Center in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. |
LOS ANGELES — Building on the momentum of its newly released Caring for Those in Need 2025 Report, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted a series of high-level roundtable discussions this week across Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York City. The events brought together faith leaders, government officials, and global humanitarian partners to bridge political and social divides through collaborative service.
The 2025 report highlights a massive global footprint: the Church provided aid in 196 countries, with members volunteering 7.4 million hours and expenditures totaling $1.58 billion.
Collaboration Across Boundaries
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| Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson speaks to the Church's humanitarian collaborators during a roundtable discussion on the recent Caring for Those in Need 2025 Report at the Los Angeles Temple Visitors’ Center in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. |
In Los Angeles, Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson joined leaders at the Temple Visitors’ Center on March 17—the 184th anniversary of the Relief Society. She emphasized that humanitarian work transcends political labels.
"We are brothers and sisters who have needs, and so we will, with joy, recognize those needs and work together shoulder to shoulder to seek to address them," President Johnson said.
The discussion showcased successful infrastructure projects in Guinea, Myanmar, and the Philippines, while pointing to the JustServe app as a primary tool for connecting local volunteers with community needs.
A Pathway to Peace
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| Sharon Eubank, director of Humanitarian Services for the Church, participates in a roundtable discussion on the Church's efforts to help those in need in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. |
The dialogue moved to Washington, D.C., on March 18, where the Church’s Office of Public and International Affairs launched its "Peacemaking Series." Outgoing Director of Humanitarian Services Sharon Eubank and incoming director Elissa Gifford joined executives from UNICEF USA, World Food Program USA, and ShelterBox USA.
The panel explored how consistent, accountable aid builds the trust necessary for long-term peace. Key insights included:
- Trust through Consistency: Elissa Gifford reported on hundreds of clean water and health projects that serve as foundations for stability.
- Youth Engagement: Barron Segar (WFP USA) highlighted the "Zero Hunger Generation" and the role of young people in global advocacy.
- Listening to Communities: Sharon Eubank noted that "solutions don't exist in our offices; they exist in the hearts of the people themselves."
Breaking the Cycle of Competition
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| On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the Church hosted the first session of its Peacemaking Series, titled “Tools for Sustainable Peacemaking: An Invitation to Learn and Exchange,” at the Milton A. Barlow Center in Washington, D.C. The opening session focused on humanitarian action as a pathway to peacemaking. |
On March 19 in New York City, the conversation turned toward the "Spirit of Goodwill." Meeting with UN officials and over 20 NGO collaborators, the group addressed the barriers to effective aid. Sarah Bouchie, CEO of Helen Keller International, noted that moving away from organizational competition has made the humanitarian sector more resilient.
Michael Nyenhuis, CEO of UNICEF USA, likened the collaborative atmosphere of the roundtable to being "inside a living Giving Machine."
2025 Humanitarian Impact at a Glance
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| The Church hosts a roundtable discussion on the Caring for Those in Need 2025 Report in New York City for more than 20 local, national and global nongovernmental organization (NGO) collaborators of Latter-day Saint Charities, as well as United Nations officials on Thursday, March 19, 2026. |
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