E-Mail
Print
The basics: Frank Venegas, 33, of Clovis is a volunteer with AmeriCorps, the national volunteer service program. Venegas, who is single, graduated from Kingsburg High School and is a student with the University of Phoenix.
What he does: Venegas is a leader and mentor for a team of 20 volunteers. He was assigned to the private nonprofit Kings Community Action Organization in Hanford last year, creating a centralized food bank in Kings County. He is working with HandsOn Central California in Fresno this year.
Why he does it: "To me there is no price you can put on being able to help," said Venegas, who is in his second year with AmeriCorps. Being a full-time volunteer is "tough, but it's rewarding."
Turning point: "When you're on the front lines helping and see the needs on a daily basis -- it made a big impact on me. It really changed my life," Venegas said.
Details, details: To better understand the plight of the hungry in Kings County, Venegas once survived by eating the contents of a typical food box given to the needy. "I wanted to see what it was like," he said. With HandsOn since this fall, he led volunteers in painting a mural at a Malaga elementary school and at a Roeding Park cleanup. Last week, Venegas volunteered at HandsOn's holiday party and dinner for the needy.
