A community service and outreach nonprofit in Rochester celebrated a big achievement this weekend.

Every weekend, Pat Liberatore joins dozens of others with Hope Be the Change to help pick up dirty needles in the North Clinton Neighborhood and Rochester’s west side.

“Doesn’t matter what; rain, sleet, snow," Liberatore said.

CEO and founder Stephanie Forrester says the group has picked up nearly 91,000 needles since they started counting in April  2018. Adding to that number, on Sunday they picked 2,192 needles, raising their grand total to 93,164. They also said they helped get active users into treatment.

“Having an organization full of people who are here to give out hope together and unite people, that’s what recovery is about," Forrester said. "It’s about connection.”

But the organization has evolved to include not just cleanup, but securing dangerous locations, handing out lunches, clothes and supplies to those struggling with addiction and offering help to those that need the outreach.

“We try to talk to them, see if they have Narcan, make sure they’re okay," Liberatore said. "If they want help, we can get them help.”

Liberatore, 29, knows all too well the pain attached to these needles. Like many of the volunteers, he is recovering from drug addiction.

“My dealer said he’s done selling pills, he’s only going to sell heroine," Liberatore said. "Iit was just crazy.”

He spent four years in prison for his drug use and violating parole but has now been sober for a nearly a year-and-a-half.

“It’s definitely great to be out here, and doing what we’re doing,” Liberatore said.

He said the clean-up is like therapy.

“I came out, I felt like family," Liberatore said. "They accepted me from my first day here.”

Connections like that helped the organization celebrate 100 consecutive weeks of cleanup Sunday.

“As addicts in recovery, if we don’t put our recovery first and put 110 percent into it every day, this is where we can end back up,” Forrester said.

A community service milestone that means a lot to everyone.

“Being around family and being out here and trying to help, even if one person gets it, it’s worth it,” Liberatore said.