After a 72 year run, the last episode of Guiding Light aired Friday, September 18. Prior to the soap’s exit from the airwaves, cast, crew and fans of Guiding Light joined HandsOn New Orleans for a day of service.

In July 2007, Guiding Light collaborated with HandsOn New Orleans to tackle renovation and revitalization projects at the New Orleans Mission, which serves the city’s needy and homeless population. Together, HandsOn New Orleans and Guiding Light garnered 100 volunteers from more than 12 states doing 800 hours of service to create a community garden; construct, paint and install privacy dividers in resident bathrooms and showers; paint walls and floors, and install mirrors and towel bars in resident bathrooms; and construct new sleeping cubicles to accommodate additional residents.

“The cast, crew and fans were some of the hardest working, nicest and most dedicated volunteers we have ever had the pleasure of working with,” said HandsOn New Orleans Development Director Geneva Marney. “Lasting friendships were formed…some of the Guiding Light cast and crew have become repeat volunteers in their spare time.”

The efforts of volunteers were captured on film and later broadcast in a Guiding Light episode.

HandsOn New Orleans salutes the soap for being cited as the longest-running television drama by the Guinness Book of World Records, and its cast, crew and fans for their commitment to help New Orleanians in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.