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ALBANY, GA -- A group of middle school students were at Carver Gym this afternoon, but they were not there to play or exercise, they were there to work.

The students, who are members of Beach United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., are in Albany as part of a missionary trip where they are volunteering at several local organizations.

Kristy McPherson said it is rewarding to “serve the community and serve the Lord.” She said helping others makes her feel proud.

Another student volunteer, Ricky Klusmeier, said helping others is important. “It makes me feel like I’m helping these people, and they’re going to have a nicer and better place to live.”

"There are about 40 middle school young people here and they're doing mission work and helping improve our community, and we're delighted that they're here,” Judy Bowles of Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful, a local organization whose mission is to beautify the city using volunteers.

This was the students third year volunteering in Albany.