On a cloudy Saturday morning, more than 25 college and high school students walked from downtown Worcester to one of Abby’s House’s properties of supportive housing on Crown Street for the 10th Annual Build Day with Working for Worcester. Right next to the original Abby’s House shelter opened in 1976, this property houses 16 women in supportive housing. Students from College of the Holy Cross, Assumption University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and St. John’s High School, all joined Abby’s House for a day of service cleaning the outdoor areas, building new furniture provided as part of the Working for Worcester grant, and planting new flowers to begin the beautiful new season of spring that is upon us.

Working for Worcester was founded by two Holy Cross students in 2012, who wanted “to step outside their campus gates and learn a bit more about the greater city of Worcester, MA—a city that, despite being the second largest in New England, can feel like it’s far removed for many of the 35,000+ college students who call Worcester home every year,” according to their website. This annual event showcases the care and compassion that local students have for the city of Worcester. The first people to staff the Abby’s House shelter when it opened in 1976 were Holy Cross students, and to this day, Holy Cross interns join Abby’s House each year to learn and give back.

Residents were so excited upon seeing their beautified back yard. Some residents love to be outdoors and with the help of students across Worcester, they now have many areas to sit and enjoy the sunshine that’s ahead in the coming months.

“It looks so beautiful!” one resident exclaimed when she saw the beautiful updates to the yard!

Abby’s House is grateful for the years of support from Worcester area college students, who have helped with so many projects and volunteer needs throughout the years. Their support allows Abby’s House to truly embody its values of hospitality, compassion and respect. The Abby’s House community coming together makes everything possible for women and children seeking shelter, housing, supportive services, and new beginnings. See the amazing transformation in the gallery below!