At the Posada youth drop-in center, Sept. 28 was a day to raise awareness.

Awareness of the presence of homeless youth in the area, the resources available to them and the need for more volunteers and donations to help relieve their unfortunate plight.

As part of Youth Awareness Week, observed Sept. 25-29, the drop-in center on Colorado Avenue hosted an open house to showcase what it offers to those ages 18 to 26 without a permanent home.

Charlotte Bieber, Posada's youth program director, said a typical weekday will see as many as 25 men and women without a home pass through the doors of center.

Inside, a warm meal, a food pantry, clean clothing, hygiene products, Wi-Fi enabled computers, haircut and laundry vouchers, a "quiet room" for resting and a refreshing shower are among the amenities that await.

As do friendly faces willing to lend an ear when it is most needed.

"The fellowship aspect is incredibly important to alleviate that level of loneliness and seclusion," Bieber said. "We have youth that come in here who are bullied by the public -- pepper sprayed while riding a bike, yelled at by others.

"So they come here and tell each other these stories to try and get some relief. Or just to be able to talk to me or a volunteer -- it's very important that they know someone cares. That's the bottom line."

There is a void, though, of those willing to show they care. The center's current corps of 10 or so volunteers, Bieber said, is inadequate to address an increased flow of foot traffic.

"I could use 50 volunteers," Bieber said. "That is our biggest need."

There are, Bieber noted, various levels of volunteer commitment, starting with a donation of 20 minutes to help prepare juice, iced tea or coffee for breakfast. Those with an hour or more to expend are invited to speak with and encourage the center's clients, organize and sort donations, clean up the grounds and kitchen, and help prepare a meal.

Volunteers wishing to commit more time are needed to teach cooking skills, greet visitors at the desk and distribute information and assist with supervision of educational workshops.

One volunteer who has done his fair share for homeless youth is Charles Parsley, a member of a Vineland United Methodist Church group who, for the last six years, has helped prepare a robust Thursday morning breakfast.

"Something as simple as a warm breakfast can mean the world to someone who doesn't have much," Parsley said. "And we've got a lot of them coming in.

"It's the joy of giving and helping ... that's why we continue to do it."

Also needed, and gladly accepted, are clothing and underwear (especially for men), hygiene products, backpacks, bicycle locks and food staples, such as fruit, butter, eggs, bacon and sliced bread.

Bieber said the center's clientele ranges from the chronically homeless to visitors simply passing through to those who have arrived hoping to start life anew.

"That's a large group," Bieber said of the latter. "Young people who say they've read online that Pueblo is a good place to come to find a new job and start a new life."

As a homeless youth's situation is often compounded by mental wellness issues, Bieber said a partnership with Health Solutions is critical.

"We have a representative here every Monday and Thursday," Bieber said. "And that's very important. We are seeing a lot of homeless youth with mental wellness issues.

"If they don't start with an issue, I see it develop over time."

In a few months, the drop-in center will have a new home inside Nancy's Harbor, a Norman Lane location that will expand services available to homeless youth, most visibly through transitional housing and lifestyle and job skills training.

For more information, Bieber may be contacted at 369-2753.

jpompia@chieftain.com