How to get started as a Ward Canning Specialist

[AZ Prepper]

What has your ward/stake done to help your Ward Canning Specialist get started and better fulfill their callings?

Please share your thoughts, ideas, etc.

[Comfrey]

My calling is one that "replaced" the former Stake Canning specialist. My title at this time is "Stake Welfare Specialist". There are several of us. I happen to be over Health, Finances, and food storage including canning. Under the direction of the High Counselor over my position, I wrote a letter to the Bishops of our Stake explaining my calling and the services we could offer them and their ward. The Relief Society Presidents and emergency preparedness people in each ward were to also receive this letter (although I don't think they did). Here is a copy of it:

Dear Bishop,

Recently I was called as a Stake Welfare Specialist. My assignment includes promoting family home storage, and offering to your ward resources needed for training members in a variety of areas under the Provident Living Umbrella. Some of the areas we would like to offer include the following:

Cooking with beans and legumes
Using whole grains
Cooking with rice
Ways to use dried milk
Food storage for small spaces
How to make bread
Sprouting
Sewing skills
Knitting and crocheting
Finance classes (budgeting, planning for the future, etc.)
Making soap
Home canning, drying, preservation of foods
Growing a garden

If there are other areas of interest which fall under the umbrella of the Provident Living areas of Finances, Home storage, or Health which are not mentioned here, please let me know and we will be glad to provide you and your ward with the resources needed.

If you have any members in your ward with expertise in any of these areas that could help us build a resource pool, we would greatly appreciate your support in sharing their names with us. By so doing, we hope to share the combined wealth of knowledge and skills that exist within our stake to further encourage and build self reliance among our neighbors.

Also, we are preparing for our Provident Living Fair on June 12th. Please let us know which areas you are interested in have represented at the fair, and any individuals who you feel could be a resource for sharing information or teaching classes.

Please discuss with your ward welfare specialist and your Relief Society President the needs and goals of your ward. Anything we can do to assist you and support you in this we will be more than happy to do.

Sincerely,

Sister xxxxxx xxxxxxx
Stake Welfare Specialist


I am gathering email addresses of those over emergency preparedness in each ward. I plan to relay information onto these individuals regarding the local LDS cannery, and any news updates regarding its use.

If I understand the direction I have been given by my stake leader, I am mainly to serve as a resource for the wards--either by teaching requested information myself, or finding others who have the skill set needed.

Hope this helps someone else.