Cassandra Berger one of several University of Dubuque students helping at a homeless shelter as part of a leadership retreat

Cassandra Berger, a 2012 graduate of Waukon High School and current senior at the University of Dubuque (UD), was one of 13 UD students who replaced ceiling tiles and insulation, painted walls, and removed dilapidated items from a local homeless shelter for men Wednesday, March 9.
The UD students partnered with eight John Deere Financial sales executives from Des Moines, Iowa and Canada to volunteer at Almost Home, a homeless shelter for men that strives to help men find jobs and permanent housing. Some of the volunteers sorted clothes at Open Closet, a program of Almost Home that gives away clothing to people in need.
As part of its leadership retreat on the UD campus, John Deere Financial wanted to incorporate a service component as well as student interaction. UD partnered with Resources Unite, a Dubuque-based nonprofit, to provide the volunteer opportunity at Almost Home. Students were selected based on demonstrated leadership skills to participate in the activity. Berger and fellow UD student Sharon Boer are featured in an article about the activity at http://tinyurl.com/zehfsb6.