ALAMOSA — Volunteers took to the walls of the soon-to-be Alamosa Food Bank with paint rollers and brushes to the interior of the building that formally was home to Atencio's Market at 8th and State Avenue in Alamosa. The building is owned by La Puente Homes, which bought the former market last year.

Lance Cheslock, executive director of La Puente said he has a goal of 200 volunteers to help with work on the building and added he is very close to reaching that goal. Cheslock thanked "the professional classy craftsman," working on the project including general contractor Joe Torres, the team from Andrew's Plastering, the employees of Hogue's Glass, and all the volunteers.

Volunteer Coordination Director David Schneider at La Puente said, "We wanted this to be a community event and have people volunteer in painting. This is a fun way to get folks together. There has been this amazing thing that has happened that really fits with who we are as La Puente. Just in the last day and a half, we have three new people who are volunteering with La Puente for the first time. We have had La Puente employees here, we have had folks who have received La Puente services and who have moved on and they have come back saying, 'Hey, I want to be a part of this.' It really mirrors the La Puente experience."

Schneider added, "We have made this a true community project, a true community experience."

Cheslock said he is optimistic the food bank will open by July.