JustServe.org is a website and app developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to relieve suffering, care for the poor and needy, and enhance the quality of life in communities across America. According to the site, “JustServe is not for proselytizing or publicity – it is simply a service to help link community volunteer needs with volunteers.”
JustServe.org provides a platform for 1) organizations to post needs; and 2) volunteers to search for places to serve in the community. JustServe.org has become so popular that many local governments in major cities have replaced their sites with the JustServe site to help people 1) find a project; 2) become a volunteer; and 3) improve their communities.
The U.S. federal government has also expressed interest in adopting the JustServe platform to encourage people to make a difference where they live. The site is for free and is a community website, not a church website.
As Jenna MacKay, a local Chattanoogan member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, explains, “While the LDS Church maintains the website, that is where the affiliation stops. The site is the LDS Church’s gift to communities around the country.”
The site and app are easy to use. Regarding the app, Ms. MacKay said, “I quickly downloaded the app to my phone, registered in less than two minutes, and instantly found multiple volunteer opportunities just 10 minutes from my home.” Ms. Mackay has been able to deliver meals to those in need in Chattanooga, and play Bingo at Alexian village. She often takes her two young children, June and James, with her and has also found opportunities to serve from home.
Ms. MacKay and her husband, Garrett, moved to Chattanooga from Houston, Texas two years ago. Ms. MacKay, a stay-at-home mom, wanted to give back in small and simple ways to a community she has grown to love. She found the opportunity through JustServe.org and is happy to be involved.
“I’m excited for the people of Chattanooga to get on the website and see how simple it is to get involved,” Ms. MacKay said. “I hope that civic leaders, religious leaders, youth groups, community groups, scout groups, school groups, family and individuals will try it out.”
Quoting Nobel Prize winner, Rabindranath Tagore, Ms. MacKay said, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
Joy best describes JustServe.org. The intent of JustServe is to build unity through service. So far, members of the Chattanooga stake, or congregation, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day have performed over 1,000 hours of community service in the past quarter.
If you would like to serve, find projects in your area on JustServe.org and “give volunteer service where you live today.”