“Spreading the Spirit of Service,” Global Histories: South Korea (2021)
“Spreading the Spirit of Service,” Global Histories: South Korea
Spreading the Spirit of Service
Members volunteer to make and share kimchi during a Helping Hands event, 2010.
What began as a service to visitors of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics led to the establishment of an annual, countrywide service drive. During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, volunteers from the Church, in connection with the Gangneung City Volunteer Center, staffed the Helping Hands Center in Gangneung. Visitors could stop by the center to warm up, get snacks, or charge their phones. They could also get help with translation, view exhibits, and try a family history search. Over a two-month period, more than 750 volunteers from the Church and community participated, serving over 10,000 visitors. About 1,400 of those visitors left their contact information because they wanted to participate in “Helping Hands” service in the future.
Pleased with the success of the Helping Hands Center, the Asia North Area Presidency felt inspired to spread that spirit of service across the country. In preparation for the first annual “Helping Hands Korean Service Day,” volunteer service managers from all over Korea contacted civic groups and government offices to identify needs. Volunteer projects included conducting a blood drive (Haeundae), campaigning to encourage voting (Gwangju), helping with a festival (Suncheon), cleaning tombstones (Jeonju), and cleaning up the environment (Cheonggyecheon and other areas). On May 26, 2018, 3,000 people, including members, missionaries, and community members, put on “Helping Hands” vests to serve their local communities, creating a “yellow wave of Helping Hands” across Korea.