An Ames resident is giving back to the community by donating a portion of her profits to the Youth and Shelter Services’ renovation fund.

Becki Christensen, a certified massage therapist and owner of Relaxation Sensation Therapeutic Massage, 1325 Maxwell Ave., is giving 10 percent of her earnings from each massage or gift certificate for the month of April to YSS’ renovation of the former Ames Municipal Building downtown.

“I decided to do this to help raise funds for YSS because it is an organization that is so in touch with the area’s future because of the work it does,” Christensen said in a prepared statement.

She said that she felt it is a good way to give back to the community. “I got the idea from reading a book, that you can donate 10 percent of earnings back to the community.”

Christensen said she hopes to raise an estimated $200 for YSS.

Christensen’s business has been in Ames for about a year, and she says “business is getting better all the time, and there are busy times and slow times.”

“If people want to still donate [and don’t have the time to receive a massage] they can buy a gift certificate,” she said.

YSS has raised 70 percent of its $2.5 million goal to renovate the former Ames Municipal Building. The building will be renamed after Richard O. Jacobson, who donated $500,000. The fund raising efforts will continue throughout the year, said Andrea Lex, YSS public information officer. “We really appreciate this and it shows a really creative way to give funds to YSS,” Lex.