Youth Mission Group ''Alive'' in Chattanooga

This week, Chattanooga is host to more than 350 high school students who are giving back to the community. Alive in You is a Catholic Service Group who is helping the clean up parts of the Scenic City. The students say spending their time helping others is worth giving up part of their summer

"I just appreciate coming down here and being able to help people, you know? Because really, especially in our own state there's so much need and just being able to give back a little bit," said Chris Kudalis, a student volunteer.

Chris is just one of the hundreds of students in town this week with the group Alive in You. Jim Weir and his wife Heather started Alive in You four years ago. It's a Catholic based program that focuses on helping others through service projects. They spend time each summer visiting different cities and offering help to those people or organizations who need it.[TAKE SOT

"Obviously the benefit is for the people being served, but also the main benefit a lot of times is for the kids who do the service work. They really have a change of heart and really can start to bring that service experience back to their home community," Jim Weir said.

While they're in Chattanooga, they'll be helping out with service projects at places like the Chattanooga Audubon Society and the Samaritan Center, as well as several schools. Today, we caught up with them doing some sprucing up at OLPH School.Cody Simmons Susan Jones

"It's makes me feel like a much better person,"" said Cody Simmons who was volunteering.

Susan Jones, another student taking part in the Mission Trip, echoed Cody's thoughts.

"It's such a great opportunity to come out here and help these people who need help. I thought it would just be so much fun. It's a great experience," she said.

Cody and Susan both say being a part of Alive in You is something they would love to do again. For Jim and Heather Weir, seeing their program grow is something they never imagined would happen.

"For us its just been really inspiring to see all the kids coming out and working so hard and giving up their summer and time to help people in need," said Weir.

This is the second year Notre Dame has hosted the group. The students will be here until Sunday, when they'll finally head back home. 

Youth Groups from six states have joined forces here in Chattanooga this week. Over this summer, nearly 1,000 teens will attend Alive in You in 4 different cities in Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana and Wisconsin.