Despite the obstacles presented by COVID-19, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs across the country have acted quickly and creatively to continue their critical work in new ways, or to pivot to meet emerging needs.
Since the start of the national emergency, more than 8,500 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers have served in direct response to COVID-19. Collectively, these national service members have:
A few years later, this is the exact message he wants to get through to people: “It can happen to anybody so quickly. People don’t really understand how quickly you can fall into this place where you feel like you have no options, and then you’re trapped.”
It was this passion for sharing his story through public speaking and advocacy that led Mikah to AmeriCorps VISTA, an experience he would later call “magical.”
Despite the obstacles presented by COVID-19, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs across the country have acted quickly and creatively to continue their critical work in new ways, or to pivot to meet emerging needs.
Since the start of the national emergency, more than 6,275 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers have served in direct response to COVID-19. Collectively, these national service members have:
National service was always something Claire knew she wanted to do. With a desire to keep her focus on improving healthcare domestically, she chose to serve in AmeriCorps.
As a Chicagoan and recent college graduate serving in Wyoming in the department’s Aging Division, Claire would be working in a place and with a population that was very unfamiliar.
At the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), we are also asking the question, “What does volunteerism look like in the time of coronavirus?”
For all of us who want to help our local communities, operating during a pandemic is new territory. How can we continue to meet community needs when health and safety calls for us to be apart?
This donation was made possible through the leadership of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy and Gov. John Bel Edwards, who helped facilitate the collection of the masks by the Louisiana National Guard from the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region Campus.
“I am grateful that the national service family was able to support our neighbors in Louisiana as they work to slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout the region," said Barbara Stewart, CEO of CNCS. “Every day, AmeriCorps members, Senior Corps volunteers, and their fellow Americans are helping communities respond to this emergency.”
But to drive home his point, McAteer is willing to table the intricacies and strip down “sustainability” to its bluntest, barest form: “You don’t just finish a project, take a digital photo, and move on.”
Veterans gain unique skills and abilities through their military service, but some veterans find it difficult to match these skills with jobs in the civilian workforce. Many veterans overcome these hurdles by seeking out national and public service opportunities where they can leverage their leadership and problem-solving abilities to tackle challenges in their community. The camaraderie and mission-driven nature of the military overlaps with the mission-driven nature of government and national service.
Mandy’s Farm – VAMOS Program – 2019 Excellence in AmeriCorps Award for Engaging More People with Disabilities
This annual celebration of outdoor activities and their benefits has grown from a week-long celebration in 1998 to cover the entire month of June. Whether you are into fishing, camping, hiking, biking, or other outside pursuits, there are plenty of places to enjoy them. You could spend all summer exploring some of the 419 locations in the National Park System, or visit some of the thousands of state and local park facilities near you.