It was a day of helping those less fortunate. Earlier this month, Local Conservation Corps and YouthBuild members, along with staff, dedicated a day of service at Poverello House and Fresno Rescue Mission.

The day began bright and early for our group of volunteers; they served breakfast to 225 individuals and prepared for that day’s lunch at Poverello House. After serving lunch and cleaning the dining area at Fresno Rescue Mission, the volunteer group sat down to enjoy the fruits of their labor: a warm meal. During the lunch break, Volunteer and Event Coordinator Donna Scully gave volunteers a quick “Intro to Fresno Rescue Mission” class and educated the group about the various services offered at Fresno Rescue Mission.

Upon finishing their shifts at Poverello House and Fresno Rescue Mission, Corpsmembers returned to our Neighborhood Youth Center to reflect upon the day’s activities and what they had learned. Corpsmember Alexandra Ruelas summed up the group’s feelings best when she said, “There are people out there who need help and though we can’t donate money, we sure can donate some time.” She adds, “I am really happy that I was given the opportunity to go and help out. I really enjoyed it and I know now that I will be able to do it again and be proud of myself. "