SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Volunteers with the Catholic HEART Workcamp are giving back this week at Friends of the Poor and Catholic McAuley Center.
Tuesday, they spent the day at the furniture bank and home goods warehouse in Scranton, helping organize donations, paint, and wash vehicles to support the organization’s mission.
Volunteer Lauren Prunk said the group traveled from New Jersey and shared more about the work they are doing to support the organization’s mission.
]“We are from New Jersey, and we’re just a group of kids from our local church, and we’re doing a lot of community service work around the town of Wilkes-Barre. We’ve recently been doing a lot of organization and taking inventory of the local shelters for the homeless around this town. It’s been really impactful. We’ve been taking notes, organizing, throwing out garbage, and helping them just kind of consolidate what they have,” said Prunk.
Volunteers Julia Guarascio and Ryan Lafferty also shared more about the specific tasks they are completing and the impact their work is making.
“We’re painting upstairs, inventory here, washing cars. Yesterday we did the same thing at more of a headquarters location. And we’re just trying to make sure that the employees that work here full-time have the easiest job possible,” said Guarascio.
“Today specifically, we’re working on creating a one stop shop for people to come in here after evictions, losing their homes. People can come here and get food, furniture, clothes, whatever they may need to kind of start over. So, we’re taking inventory, we’re cleaning out vans for deliveries,” said Lafferty.
Lafferty, Prunk, and Guarascio shared what giving back means to them and how meaningful it is to lend a helping hand to those in need.
“We’re all blessed to not have to worry about shelter, food. So, because of that, I think we kind of have a duty to give back to the less fortunate,” said Lafferty.
“It’s just really impactful not only to it to see an outcome, just to do it out of the good of heart, and to see the impact we’re really making on the people. The people that have been giving us instructions and that are kind of in charge here, seeing the impact that we’re making has been something that I think I’ll take with me,” said Prunk.
“I think it’s something that everyone should take part in at some point because it’s just the most fulfilling thing to be able to help people of your own volition and choice. Just to make a difference in the world and in ways that are really easy for you,” said Guarascio.
Volunteers will continue organizing and taking inventory at the furniture bank and home goods warehouse on Wednesday.