(ROANOKE WSLS 10) - Dozens of students from all over the country are making the Roanoke Valley home for a week to make a difference for those in our community.
Greene Memorial United Methodist Church is hosting a youth mission with 30 groups of students across the nation.
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The program began Monday and will last through Friday.
One group painted the porch for an 89-year-old woman who was unfortunately in the hospital as they worked.
Organizers say all of those receiving help are grateful.
"I'm sure when she gets out of the hospital she's going to love what they've done. The porch looks so much better, look at it, you should've seen it before," said Maurice Woody, the homeowner's nephew.
"We are all sad that we really didn't get to meet her, But I'm excited for her to come home and see it all finished," Emma Fowler said, a high school sophomore from Michigan.
"We went to visit a site before they came and the lady opens the door and she started crying, and she said I feel like I just won publishers clearinghouse," recalls Debbie Brown, Greene Memorial United Methodist Church Director of Discipleship.
Two years ago Greene Memorial hosted a youth mission day, so this is the first time students have worked in the community for an entire week.