Three years as a volunteer and director at the Phoenix Community Service Center has given Ramona Valenzuela a lot of experience working with people.

She and her faithful crew of volunteers are able to meet many of the clothing and food needs of the neighborhood, an area comprised of people on fixed incomes — some elderly and some with growing families. At times these same local people end up as volunteers. They have come in for assistance, become friends of the center, and then want to help out.

"I don't know what I would do if the center wasn't here," said one young mother of four from the neighborhood. She comes in to help sort and label clothing and whatever else needs to be done.

Clothing given out at the Center is neat and clean and up-to-date. Quilts are donated by the Sun City church, handmade and beautiful in color and design, and are used in baby layettes and also for individuals.

Some needs are temporary — others more permanent. Sometimes needs are urgent. "We had only one mattress, and that one wasn't in very good shape," says Valenzuela, "so we hesitated to give it out. But a mother saw it and asked if she could have it for her children, who otherwise would sleep on the cement."

One source of food for the center is a program called Waste Not, which provides perishable food from restaurants and other sources to the hungry. Waste Not recently featured the Phoenix Community Service Center and its crew in their newsletter and praised their work in reaching the needy.

Open three mornings each week, Monday through Wednesday, the center always welcomes donations of time, finances and good, clean clothing, bedding and household items. Contact Valenzuela at 602-258-9951 for more information.