Relief Society marks 166 years, offers tips for disaster preparedness

A group of about 100 women who make up the Relief Society met Saturday for a 166-year birthday celebration at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cape Girardeau. The society's members come from nine congregational regions of the church and are committed to providing help where the need is greatest worldwide.

The Relief Society is directed by Humanitarian Services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which monitors changing demands worldwide and ensures the work is carried out efficiently, from implementing specific instructions to shipping the goods most cost effectively.

The group opened with worship, followed by kit assembly, a presentation on disaster preparedness by June Rigby of the Poplar Bluff, Mo., congregation, a humorous fashion show and lunch.

The women focused on assembling three types of kits: school, personal hygiene and newborn kits, plus wall hangings to brighten up bleak orphanages. The results were 63 school kits with 36 near completion; 112 hygiene kits with leftover items to be locally donated; and more than 60 newborn kits with 20 completed and 42 near completion.

For the newborn kits, the women filled more than 2 one-gallon bags with safety pins, flat-fold diapers, socks or booties, soap and handmade receiving blankets and gowns to be sent to the church's humanitarian aid headquarters in Salt Lake City and distributed to mothers in greatest need.

Joanie Bohn, president of the Farmington, Mo., Relief Society group, was up sewing until 1:30 a.m. Friday. She also pressed the garments. Bonnie Clugsten of Carbondale, Ill., said, "She pressed them because these little children deserve something nice."

Clugsten explained that supplies for the kits were chosen with regard to what was easiest for the mothers to keep clean, considering many must launder by hand. "The flat-fold diapers come cleaner because they're not thick in the middle. The hardest item to find on the list was diaper pins," she said.

Area president Taffy McMullin said the colorful wall hangings for orphanages would not only help develop children's imaginations but had a practical use because they could be used as quilts. Altogether, 65 wall hangings were completed Saturday.

She also said, "In our church we emphasize preparedness so we know what to do and can help other people."

Preparing for the worst

Rigby gave a presentation on disaster preparedness. She had learned about preparing for disasters from her church, Red Cross training, personal research and life experience.

She stressed the idea of food storage because it was a commandment and, if church members were already prepared, it would make more food available to those in need.

Rigby said, "I always had a little storage, but it was pathetic. In 1997 we were living in Minnesota and there was a chemical spill that called for evacuation. With three children and a newborn, I didn't even have a diaper bag packed. Panic set in."

"After that I said, 'Oh, I better get real about this and put some effort into this.' Now when I see a storm coming there's no panicky running around. I feel I haven't failed my family."

Rigby recommended a three-month supply of food used every day, labeled on the outside with the date it was bought. She encouraged rotating and replacing stock.

For those living on a budget, she advised taking $2 per shopping trip and purchasing something on sale for storage purposes. "We waste $2 on other items every time we go to the store," Rigby said.

Although finding an alternate water source would be the best plan, Rigby stressed the importance of water storage as well, with instructions on how to extend its one-year shelf life and handouts on how to sterilize water and the supplies needed.

Rigby suggested having masks on hand for self quarantine in the case of a pandemic.

Chantal Jamieson, a member of the Jackson branch, said she learned that expiration dates printed on cans were general and that, without dents or rust, the shelf life of canned food extended past the date on the can.

Evelyn Senske, another Jackson branch member, shared her "fire in a can" with the group. The clean-burning, portable source of light and heat is made from an empty paint can purchased at a home improvement store. It is stuffed with a roll of Pom brand toilet paper soaked with about half a bottle of alcohol. "Once it's ignited the fire in a can will burn for six to eight hours," Senske said.

"Having Jell-O on hand is recommended," said Rigby, explaining that it has nutritional value fand can be given to the ill in easy-to-swallow liquid form if needed.

Mock fashion show

Following the presentation, the humorous fashion show included 24 models in varying ensembles. Model Erin Windbigler, Jackson Relief Society president, switched from a "cancan" outfit, made with a belt of soda cans strapped to the waist, to a "scoop-neck dress" made of a necklace of scoops, and took to the catwalk with flair.

Beth Clark of Chicago, who was visiting local member Becki Scribner, wore a doublebreasted suit made of two bras strapped like sashes across the front and back of her garment.

cpagano@semissourian.com

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