On March 22, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff continued the Biden Administration’s ‘Help is Here’ tour with stops in Jacksonville, Fla. and Des Moines, Iowa.
In each of these locations, AmeriCorps members stand alongside neighbors and community leaders responding to COVID-19, just as they are across the country. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers are on the ground, delivering aid where it’s needed, and helping vaccinate thousands throughout Florida.
Speaking to a group of local leaders during a visit to Feeding Northeast Florida’s warehouse, Vice President Harris stated,
“The work you all have been doing is extraordinary. I'm certain that history is going to show that this was a moment of extreme crisis that challenged us, and there were the heroes that just showed up.”
At AmeriCorps, we share that same belief. We know that not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they wear an “A.”
Reducing Hunger and Strengthening Food Systems
Joined by Secretary Tom Vilsack, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visited the Food Bank of Iowa, one of the many AmeriCorps partners working to improve food insecurity. While Mr. Emhoff didn’t get the opportunity to meet any AmeriCorps members, the work matters no less. For the past year, just as millions have faced increasing hunger needs, volunteers have been a part of the critical part of the response to ensure that every American is able to put food on the table.
AmeriCorps has joined this effort, with teams supporting food banks and other hunger programs across the country.
- Spring partnership announced with Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, McLennan County Hunger Coalition
- Ohio National Guard transitions out; AmeriCorps in at Greater Cleveland Food Bank
- Feeding Washington: Facing food insecurity head on
- Iowa AmeriCorps Site Tackling Food Insecurity Receives VIP Visit
Supporting Vaccination Outreach and Delivery
In recent months, AmeriCorps has joined the urgent campaign to vaccinate as many Americans as possible. Hundreds of AmeriCorps members are providing the extra people power to increase the capacity of state, local, and FEMA supported centers.
Vice President Kamala Harris stopped by one of these centers in Jacksonville, Fla. where she said a few brief words to the Naval Officers and AmeriCorps members supporting the center:
“That’s some of the most noble work any human being can do: to live a life of service. To protect, to support, and to lift up our neighbors. That’s what you guys are doing. So, I’m here on behalf of the President and myself to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Keep doing what you’re doing.”
Vaccinations Elsewhere
- Rutgers University’s Resilient, Innovative Year Confronting COVID-19
- FEMA Corps Team Joining West Virginia’s Fight Against COVID-19
- Berkeley tries grassroots methods to avoid ‘vaccine hunters,’ reach vulnerable groups
