60,000 lbs of trash removed from Va. home

LYNCHBURG, Va., March 15 (UPI) -- Volunteers removed 60,000 pounds of trash from the home of an elderly Virginia couple temporarily evicted from their house for hoarding trash, officials said.

Students from Liberty University involved in a group called "Campus Serve" came out Wednesday to help remove trash from the couple's home in Lynchburg, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA, reported.

"You clear out one room and you feel good. You're ready to tackle the next room," said Sean Dennerlein, a Liberty University student.

Experts said the homeowners, whose names were not reported, will need encouragement when they return to their home.

"Hoarding is an unnatural holding onto of possessions," said Ryan Neace, a counselor with The Change Group in Lynchburg. "If you have a family member struggling with this, you're going to have to be incredibly patient."

Campus Serve volunteers said they plan to offer support for the family upon return.

"We don't want to just do a good thing and leave," said Dennerlein. "We want to get them involved in counseling at churches, but there's a lot more work to be done before we even start considering that."