Samaritan House on Lawrence Street in downtown Denver recently welcomed eight young volunteers and two dedicated adult leaders who traveled hundreds of miles with a shared purpose: to serve others with compassion and to put their faith into action.
The group, organized through YouthWorks, a faith-based organization that provides mission trip opportunities for youth groups, connecting them with local nonprofits and community organizations to serve communities in need through meaningful volunteer work, spent five hours serving throughout the iconic building, celebrating 40 years of service this year. Coming from St. Paul’s Church in Luther, Minnesota and Yorkfield Presbyterian Church in Elmhurst, Illinois, the students embraced every opportunity to lend a hand.
Their day was filled with meaningful work that helps keep Samaritan House running smoothly. Volunteers deep cleaned the cafeteria, chopped and prepared food, watered outdoor plants, scrubbed walls and baseboards, picked up litter throughout the parking lot and completed numerous other projects that often happen behind the scenes and make a lasting difference for guests and staff alike.
For Kathleen Andrea of St. Paul’s Church, the trip was about more than completing projects—it was an opportunity for young people to live out their faith through service.
“We came to Denver to do service work within the community and to glorify God,” she shared.
Matt Markaresh, Associate Pastor for Mission and Outreach at Yorkfield Presbyterian Church, has participated in several YouthWorks trips over the years. For him, these experiences create opportunities to connect with communities beyond his own while demonstrating God’s love in practical ways.
“It’s been great just being able to come out and be with the community, to meet people, and to serve the way God calls us to serve,” Matt said. “What I really appreciate is finding different places throughout the country where we can connect and serve as the larger Church.”
While the projects completed during the day were significant, the volunteers also experienced something deeper: the opportunity to work together, build relationships, and better understand the importance of serving neighbors with dignity and compassion.
The first building in the nation built specifically to house folks experiencing homelessness, Samaritan House is celebrating 40 years of serving the community this year. Critical to all of those 40 years are our volunteers. Across all five of our Samaritan House locations and all Catholic Charities’ ministries, volunteers are an essential part of our mission. Whether preparing meals, caring for our facilities, or tackling projects that support daily operations, every act of service helps create a welcoming environment for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
We are grateful to the students, leaders, and YouthWorks for choosing to spend part of their summer serving alongside us. Their willingness to travel, work hard, and invest in our community is a reminder that compassion knows no distance—and that even a single day of service can leave a lasting impact.