This month, as Woodland resident Conni Crandall goes about serving her neighbors at the Woodland Senior Center, seeking those who look particularly lost, dedicating her efforts as a birthday gift to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson, who turns 100 years old on Sept. 9.

Reaching out to the one who needs help is all that he asks as a gift for this momentous birthday.

“One of the places where the Savior used the number 100 in the scriptures was the parable of the lost sheep. Though 99 of his flock were safely by his side, the shepherd went in search of the 1 who was lost,” Nelson said recently. “I have no need of physical gifts. But one spiritual offering that would brighten my life is for each of us to reach out to “the one” in our lives who may be feeling lost or alone.”

Through her years serving in the Woodland community, Crandall has seen and felt the impact of being an instrument for giving love.

“Although I can’t always remember the exact words spoken, I know the power of reaching out because I can remember the feelings that I had as the Holy Spirit has guided my footsteps the whole way,” she says.

Crandall invites everyone to join her in the joy she has found serving at the Woodland Senior Center.

Another way to serve here in Yolo County is the monthly 3rd Thursday Humanitarian Day, which invites the community to come together to do everything from wrapping diapers for the Yolo Diaper Bank and packing lunches for Empower Yolo, to making toys like sock monkeys to fill comfort bags for children in the foster care system.

The event is held at the LDS Church meetinghouse at 850 Pioneer Ave. in Woodland.

See https://woodlandwemm.org/ for more details. A number of other local opportunities to serve can be found on justserve.org, a free website and app.

A special broadcast in honor of President Nelson will be held on his 100th birthday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m. MST. It will be available to watch live stream on Broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, the Church’s YouTube channel, and the Gospel Stream app.

The event will also be available for on-demand viewing on YouTube, Gospel Media, and the Gospel Stream app.