For Alpine resident Helen Starley, service is a lifetime legacy. For 11 years, Starley has volunteered her time and resources to help meet the needs of the growing Utah County community.

“Being a widow, a lot of people have helped me,” Starley said. “It’s my turn to help them.”

Starley, a member of the Alpine North Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently coordinated a humanitarian project. More than 400 people came together and assisted in the project to make it a success.

“Anytime you can help someone else, you should do it,” Starley said. “From helping others, you know you are making a difference in the community.”

Members of the stake donated a variety of items including: toilet paper, diapers, Kleenex, paper towels, hand soap and laundry products. The items contributed included: 232 twin size quilts, 93 receiving blankets, 500 polyfilled stuffed balls, 259 dolls, 460 hygiene kits, 340 school kits, 10 leper bandages and 200 wooden cars.

“Young men and young women cut fabric and batting,” Starley said. “Young children helped to paint handmade wooden toy cars.”

The items were donated to 10 different agencies including: Women and Children in Crisis, House of Hope, Mountainland Head Start, United Way of Utah County, Kids on the Move, Christmas Box House, Boys and Girls Clubs, Alpine House, Juvenile Justice Services and LDS Humanitarian Center.

The donations benefited each of the organizations by helping meet the needs of children and families in Utah County. Six truckloads delivered the items to the different agencies and programs.

For the first time in 11 years, Starley had assistants in the humanitarian project. Barry Vincent, Dianne Christensen, Carma Newman, Marcia Isaacson and Rilla Morgan supported Starley and helped to make the project a success.

Service is nothing new for the 75 year old. In previous years, Starley coordinated biannual service projects within the county. One project involved making 500 quilts during Women’s Conference held at Brigham Young University. Women from all over the nation helped to complete the project.

Starley now focuses on one large project each year and each project is based upon the needs of the local community.

“It makes you feel good when you know you are helping people in need,” Starley said.

For volunteering ideas, contact United Way of Utah County by dialing 211 or visiting www.unitedwayuc.org.