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Eagle Mountain resident Tammy Barber (far right) and Kellie Winterton (second from right) stands with a group holding signs of encouragement during the Motivational Mile of positive messages in Eagle Mountain on Thursday May 22, 2025.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Volunteers work to remove mud from a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Provo.

Courtesy Provo City

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Kensley Blackwell is pictured Thursday, June 5, 2025, standing at a table filled with items prepared to be purchased at her upcoming yard sale, happening Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Courtesy Spencer Blackwell

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Sam and Emmaline Gabbitas pose with their 50 Yard Challenge certificates on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Santaquin.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Volunteers are pictured at the Iglesia Apostolica De La Fe En Cristo Jesus on July 4, 2025, in Provo.

Courtesy Kurt and Carrie Sandholtz

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When someone is in need, residents of Utah Valley are often there to help.

The community’s compassion was exemplified in 2025, when acts of service took place in cities throughout the valley.

Here are some important moments of charity covered by the Daily Herald staff this year:

Volunteers clean up a mudslide

After a powerful mudslide cascaded down the mountain on Aug. 27 and enveloped a Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Provo, the community was quick to respond.

More than 200 people, many of whom were attendees of the meetinghouse, got up early, grabbed a shovel, and dug out the mud that was pressed against the building and could not be reached by heavy machinery.

“I’m just grateful for the volunteers,” Provo Utah 1st stake president Francis Mateaki said. “We sent out the email last night asking for whoever is available, and they showed up at 7 a.m.”

Pleasant Grove rallies together after tragedy

Tragedy struck on April 29 when 9-year-old Dalton Gibbs was hit and killed by a truck while riding his bike home from school in Pleasant Grove.

In response to the devastating incident, the Pleasant Grove community rallied together, placing blue, white and yellow ribbons around the neighborhood to remember Gibbs.

A GoFundMe raised funds for funeral expenses, and Chubby’s Neighborhood Cafe in Pleasant Grove offered to donate all proceeds from its sales one day to support the Gibbs family.

“Pleasant Grove is a real tight-knit community,” Capt. Britt Smith of the Pleasant Grove Police Department said. “So when something like this happens to some of the most vulnerable and youngest people in their community, it hurts everybody.”

Community restores west Provo church

The peeling exterior of the Iglesia Apostolica De La Fe En Cristo Jesus in west Provo was in need of a new paint job, and many volunteers stepped up over the Fourth of July weekend to help out.

A professional painter offered his services free of charge, nearby department stores donated paint, and members of the Spanish-speaking Evangelical congregation and community volunteers worked together to repaint the church building a vibrant blue.

“It doesn’t matter what church you belong to or what your beliefs are,” volunteer Kurt Sandholtz said. “We’re all just friends and members of the same community and we can work together on this.”

Kensley’s Krew

A 13-year-old Vineyard girl suffering from epilepsy displayed a generous act of compassion in June to help other people who deal with the disease.

Kensley Blackwell held a yard sale to raise money for epilepsy research. She sold homemade pillowcases and baked goods and collected donations from the community.

“I want to try to make sure that other people know that you’re not alone and that I’m trying to help by finding a cure,” Blackwell said.

Wave of encouragement

Eagle Mountain resident Ben Lyne has spent the last few years jogging around town with a sign that says “I Believe in You.”

In May, Lyne looked to amplify his message by breaking the world record for the longest line of people holding motivational signs. The result was a mile-long line of 1,500 community members showing uplifting messages.

“If you ever get an idea to do something good for somebody, don’t wait, do it right away,” Lyne said. “You’ll completely change your life no matter what you’re going through, and you’ll just be a lot happier.”

A benefit concert

The Payson-Santaquin community wrapped its arms around a mother that suffered the loss of her husband-and son just 20 days apart from each other in May.

A “Suiter Family Benefit Concert” was held June 24 to honor the lives of Brian Suiter, 25, and father, Christopher Suiter, 50, and provide financial security for the family.

“My goal is to help this woman ease the burden of what is happening in her life, just because she’s a mom, and she has a family and she’s now the sole provider,” event organizer Katie Higley said.

Mowing to serve 

In August, 8-year-old Emmaline Gabbitas joined her brother, Sam, as a finisher of the “50 Yard Challenge,” a national initiative where kids mow 50 lawns for people in need.

Gabbitas worked throughout the year mowing lawns for widows and people with significant health problems in the Santaquin community.

“It’s just so cool that your kids can participate in something that is making a difference in people’s lives,” Amanda Gabbitas said.