Operation Blessing and LU Serve Partner to Help Disaster Relief Victims

In a world that is struggling to contain a widespread pandemic, it can be hard to find ways to serve people in need while maintaining safe protocols. 

However, on Nov. 10, Operation Blessing and LU Serve partnered together to allow students a tangible way to help people in need across the U.S. without the need to leave campus.

During the event, students funneled into the LaHaye Event Space in shifts to fill red 5-gallon buckets with cleaning supplies, sanitizer and masks to be distributed to victims of natural disasters. After students filled two buckets, they wrote encouraging notes on the lids and sealed the buckets shut with a mallet.

By the end of the night, hundreds of red buckets were packed and prepared for distribution.

For months now, Operation Blessing has distributed hundreds of red buckets to people in need across the U.S. The Christian organization serves in the U.S. and around the world with the mission of demonstrating God’s love by eliminating human need and suffering.

One of the ways Operation Blessing serves people is through disaster relief, which is where the idea for distributing red buckets came to life. Each bucket has a personalized message on the lid, which Jeff Westling, chief of staff at Operation Blessing, said brings hope to those who are suffering.

According to Westling, the buckets packed by LU Students will be distributed all over the country whenever a natural disaster strikes. As he watched student volunteers participate in packing buckets, Westling said he felt immensely encouraged. 

“It’s been incredible,” Westling said. “The enthusiasm of the Liberty student body is overwhelming, and at the same time, it’s extremely encouraging to see their heart for service, their love for Jesus and their desire to serve others.”

For Samantha Losee, Resident Shepherd, the bucket packing event was her second time volunteering at an LU Serve campus event.

“I was part of the suitcase packing event (LU Serve) did last year, and I just love LU Serve,” Losee said. “I love their heart to serve the community and be part of a tangible solution worldwide.”

Losee said she is grateful that Liberty has given her opportunities to show the love of Christ in tangible ways through LU Serve events.

“(I have) such a gratefulness for our university and its heart to serve really well (and) to represent Christ well in how we serve, because that is the core of Liberty,” Losee said.

Madison Hirneisen is a News Reporter. Follow her on Twitter at @MadiHirneisen.