A Dream For Helsinki

In a recent visit to Finland, we met with the Helsinki Stake to discuss and develop a humanitarian project that involves a local food bank. 

The food bank has operated over 30 years serving the underprivileged and needy population in the greater Helsinki area. Their main source of food comes from supermarkets and are called “clearance products” or “loss food”. The organization is 100% non profit, and is associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Parish of Finland which provides a modest operational budget. The City of Helsinki also provides funds for the service they operate. But the funding is not enough to purchase needed food items like meats, fish, cheese, and eggs. 

The food bank hands out free food three days a week, with 1000-1500 participants' occurrence. During our visit, we observed a very long line of orderly persons extending through the parking lot, up a ramp and down the street. The recipients carry their own bags and are filled with food like fruit, bread, frozen premade meals, bakery items, boxed or canned goods, etc. 

The need for food has been constant and growing in Helsinki. Recent high inflation costs affect more low income people, which include families, pensioners and students. A large percent of whom are non-natives, and 80% students in the area do not speak Finnish as their mother tongue. Many beneficiaries are refugees or suffer disabilities. No one is questioned or turned away. They simply open their bag and food is given.

The food bank originated in the basement of the Lutheran Church, and has expanded to a larger space. It operates under the direction of the Lutheran Parish and a Board of Directors. Helsinki's population is about 75% Lutheran affiliated and the church has not been open or inviting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

Local members of the Helsinki Stake, organized, collected and donated food items to this food bank which started a warm friendship. This humanitarian project will help relieve the needs of the hungry, and also improve relations between two religions. The 76 year-old operations manager has been involved over 20 years. Every day she shows up for work and runs a tight ship, where volunteers and employees highly respect her.   

The Helsinki Stake is dedicated to helping this food bank in long-term ways. To bring in local dependable volunteers weekly, collect food items for donation, and assist finding new food sources in the area. The stake president dreamt about being involved locally in "small and simple ways", and now calls it "A Dream for Helsinki."

This is a good example the way the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Europe North Area wants local leadership to get involved with humanitarian relief work. Opportunities where stakes use their resources and intelligence to rally together, brainstorm, give opinions, formulate an idea, make a plan and execute. From small and simple means, dreams do come true.