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HARLINGEN -- The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday inspired 20 AmeriCorps/ G Force members to make this day all about lending a hand for those in need.

They raked, painted and educated others in honor of this day.

“It should be a working day…a service day, and that’s why we are out here,” said Dora Olivares, director of college information and new student recruitment at Texas State Technical College.

This community service group lent a hand at Colonia Las Palmas in Harlingen.

“We are out here to do something great for this community,” said Olivares.

The college students spread the word about college and the steps to get there. It’s another way for them to help out close to home, and Pastor Joe Castañero is thankful for that.

“I appreciate their help. It’s going to be a blessing for everybody here.,” said the pastor.

The group painted El Cordero Revivals Church, a local staple for over 30 years, and the only place of worship in this colonia.

“The community used to be pretty bad back when we started, but since we’ve been here it’s changed a lot and praise God for that,” said Pastor Castañero.

As activists, the students are helping the church remain the rock of this community.