Warsaw Wesleyan Church youth group members are spending this week completing community service projects in Warsaw.
There are 20 to 25 volunteers completing tasks. They began the service projects Monday and will continue their volunteer efforts until Friday.
The volunteers are seventh- through 12th-graders in the church's youth group. There also are adult volunteers assisting the students.
Warsaw Wesleyan Church Youth Pastor Jon Bell came up with the idea for the volunteer week.
Last year, church volunteers went to Chicago to volunteer in the inner city. Bell said this year he wanted students to get a feel for what it was like serving the community where they live.
"Our vision for our youth group is to get the students in the word and encourage them to give back by becoming the hands and feet of Jesus," Bell said.
He said people often think to serve they need to go to another country, but it is in their own back yards and communities where work needs to be done.
The youth group will volunteer this week at the Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko County by putting on a Vacation Bible School. The volunteers also are spending this week completing projects at Combined Community Services.
Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client services, said the volunteers have been helpful. They sorted food and clothing donations, completed yard work and painted an office at CCS.
Aaron Christenberry, 16, was one of the volunteers Tuesday who helped sort clothing at CCS."It's great to share the love of Jesus and help an organization that helps a lot of people in the community," Christenberry said.
The volunteers also completed projects at Alma Morrison's home at 742 McClellan St. The youth painted the home's exterior, mowed and raked leaves.
Morrison, 67, said she has lived at the home for 43 years, and it has been hard to her to do work on her home.
"I appreciate the volunteers who are out here," Morrison said.
Leah Davis, 13, said she enjoyed painting the home.
"It's fun to volunteer with other people in the youth group," Davis said.
