Kelsey Getz, 19, paused for a moment Sunday, scrub brush in hand, to survey her handiwork -- disappearing grime from the shower mat she was scrubbing on the pavement outside Roots, a homeless shelter for young adults in the University District.

Getz, a University of Washington sophomore and president of the student chapter of WashPIRG, helped coordinate nearly 100 volunteers who fanned out around Seattle on Sunday to help about two dozen non-profit organizations with their spring-cleaning chores. The effort was part of the 23rd annual nationwide Hunger Cleanup day sponsored by the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.

		Meryl Schenker / P-I
	UW sophomores, from left, Kelsey Getz, Janiece Jenkins and Whitney Bosel do a spring cleanup at ROOTS, a homeless shelter in the University District. Ninety-four student volunteers signed up with WashPIRG to clean at one of 10 locations around Seattle as part of the nationwide 23rd annual Hunger Cleanup.

Sunday's effort was twofold. First, it was geared to help Seattle soup kitchens, thrift stores and homeless shelters do the maintenance work their staffs normally can't get to in the course of providing food, shelter and services. Second, it was aimed at raising money to eradicate hunger.

"There are about 38 million American who are food-insecure in any one year," said Getz, an international studies major, who got interested in the issue during her freshman year.

"I saw people my age on the Ave who were homeless and hungry," she said. "It was devastating. I was really interested in finding a way to help."

Money raised yesterday was earmarked to finance education campaigns for reducing hunger and to help University District Service Providers Alliance, a coalition of non-profits that provides a safety net for street youths. In addition, WashPIRG is helping some international projects, including providing medical supplies for refugees.

At Roots, the volunteers, all UW students, spent the middle of the day scrubbing down the basement facility that provides emergency overnight shelter for displaced young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. The organization provides about 8,000 bed-nights a year, or shelter for an average of more than 20 people a night.

Christyn Weinstein, 23, program coordinator for Roots, appreciated the extra elbow grease.

"We have a small staff," she said. "Basic housekeeping doesn't get done. We don't have enough time."

Roots has a paid staff of five, plus a network of about 200 active volunteers who help keep it running.

Still, there's a lot to be done.

In addition to shelter, Roots provides daily hot meals and caseworker services for those in need.

More than 60 percent of those served come out of the foster care system, Weinstein said. Three-quarters have histories of abuse, and many have severe economic issues.

"They are trying to get housing but can't quite make first and last month's rent," she said.

Sunday, student volunteers lined up free shoes neatly on racks, and sorted travel-size toiletries into bins. They wiped down sleeping mats, mopped the linoleum floor and polished the stainless steel kitchen.

"This is awesome," said Weinstein, waving toward the students in blue work gloves who were getting down to business. "It really helps out."

MORE ONLINE

hungercleanup.org

washpirgstudents.org

rootsinfo.org

udsp.org