"I'm so grateful for the food and clothing I've received," said a visitor to the Community Service Center in downtown Phoenix. "I want to give of my time to help others—like you helped me!"

The Community Service Center reaches men and women for Jesus, first by ministering to their physical needs for food and clothing, then by offering spiritual help—counseling and Bible studies for those who request it. About 200 people receive help each week.

The center has operated in Phoenix since the early 1930s when it was located next to the conference office. The office moved long ago, but the Community Service Center still stands in the same area of central Phoenix.

Director Denise Sanderson and the volunteers say their goal is to share the love of Jesus in helpful, practical ways.

When Sanderson began as director a year ago, her first chore was a major clean-up, which is still in progress. One room at a time, the staff cleaned, organized, and sometimes remodeled. Recent improvements include a new roof, electrical work, and an extra shower. They plan to provide space for vocational training in the future.

One of the larger rooms was converted to a chapel where worship services are held the second and fourth Sabbaths of each month. A nutritious breakfast is served on those mornings, and showers and clean clothes are also available, since many of the clients are poor or homeless.

But the center's ministry reaches beyond central Phoenix. For many years an Adventist team called "Bread of Life" has provided hot lunches and worship services to homeless men at a park in Tempe. Recently volunteers have begun transporting many of those people to the Phoenix center on the Sabbaths when worship services are held.

Another center project, in conjunction with the Mesa Palms vacation Bible school, provided backpacks full of new school items to 70 children in Mesa—benefiting both the VBS children who gave the backpacks and the students who received them.

The center also recently "adopted" Career Success High School, which provides education for single mothers with children and for teens who have had trouble in other schools.

In November, the center served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to more than 70 people with the help of volunteers from several local churches. Much of the food was donated. At Christmas, children of lower income families were given new toys.

"Last year we provided toys for over 250 needy children at Christmas," said Sanderson, "And this year we're sure to get as many, or more."

The goals of the center are many, and the challenges are great. "We always need more volunteers to help on the three weekday mornings we're open—to hand out food, clothing and household items to the public," said Sanderson. "We could also use help with our worship services and with preparing and serving food."

For information, call 602-258-9951.