WEST VALLEY, Utah–To help lower-income volunteer missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they embark on their missions, Deseret First Credit Union’s Charitable Foundation is providing up to $500 to soon-to-be missionaries to help them purchase items for their missions such as clothing, shoes, coats, umbrellas, luggage, and books.
Among the beneficiaries is Laesgaw K'chawtee, who immigrated with his family to the U.S. to escape violence in Burma. The refugee family settled in Buffalo, N.Y., where K'chawtee made friends with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. K’chawtee converted to the Church and chose to serve a mission to share his newfound faith. He was assigned to serve in Louisville, Kentucky.
“We are refugees from Thailand who fled the war in Burma, so our financial situation is not that great,” said K’chawtee in applying for assistance. “My parents can’t really help me prepare, but I would very much appreciate some assistance with suits, dress shirts and ties.”
The Deseret First Charitable Foundation helped K'chawtee purchase those clothing items.
The Deseret First Charitable Foundation is a 501c3 that was created with a very specific purpose to give back to members of the community served by Deseret First Credit Union. Utah-based Deseret First Credit Union was founded in 1955 to serve employees of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and later membership was expanded to also serve members of the Church and their families.