A service project to assemble 2,000 newborn kits was part of the three-day “Why It Matters” Conference held by UVU and the United Nations. The conference focuses on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which include eradicating poverty and hunger and reducing inequalities.

Stacks of diapers, baby formula, baby bottles, blankets, and pacifiers filled the Sorensen Student Center Grand Ballroom at Utah Valley University (UVU). At the same time, hundreds of people from all over the world worked side-by-side to assemble 2,000 newborn kits for refugee and immigrant mothers.

The enormous service project was part of the three-day “Why It Matters” Conference held by UVU and the United Nations. The conference focuses on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which include eradicating poverty and hunger and reducing inequalities.

“This is the first time they have had an embedded service project as part of a United Nations Conference. We were trying to think of something that sustains and supports their mission,” Allison Drew said. With her husband, Craig Drew, she serves as Utah director of large-scale humanitarian service projects for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Baldomero Lago, chief international officer at UVU and conference organizer, said the idea of a humanitarian project came about in the planning stages of the “Why It Matters” Conference. The intent was to provide attendees with the opportunity to engage in a collaborative, hands-on experience that went beyond the discussion of problems and solutions and aided those in need. Conference organizers teamed up with JustServe.org and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to work through the logistics.

“With that inspiration and the United Nations in New York approving it, we felt like, ‘let’s go!’” Allison Drew said.

Eight weeks ago, the service project had no supplies, but as word spread through the JustServe website and local congregations, pallets of newborn items filled storage areas at local Deseret Industries locations.

“There’s probably at least 2,000 people who have taken part in this,” Craig Drew said. “I mean people who have been involved in collecting and donating — grandmas that have made dozens of handmade crocheted newborn hats and 100 plus people who have helped sort it and count it.”

UVU student Samuel Spencer is among the volunteers. “I think it’s really important to care for everyone and try to see everyone’s needs as much as possible,” he said. “I think this is a great way to do that.”

The Drews are working with numerous organizations in Utah that have expressed a desperate need for the newborn kits assembled at UVU. “This is the first time we have done something for refugee mamas and their babies.” Allison Drew said.

Organizers hope the international participants will be inspired to take the idea of large-scale service back to their own countries.

Spencer hopes the efforts will build bridges. “Maybe I can’t contribute monetarily with donations, but I can help do the work because I have the time,” he said. “There are tons of conflicts in the world right now, and anything that we can do to help people is important. I think many conflicts start because they don’t feel like they are heard or seen. So, anything we can do to help people feel like they are heard or seen can help resolve those conflicts.”

“Why It Matters” is a first-of-its-kind academic United Nations conference. Its success ensures that other universities globally will continue the tradition.