News Release
For Immediate Release: May 5, 2009
Contact Person: Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, 301-334-7730
AmeriCorps Week Proclaimed
The Garrett County Commissioners signed a proclamation this week declaring May 9-16, 2009, AmeriCorps Week in Garrett County . Pictured above are Commissioners Ernie Gregg, Denny Glotfelty and Fred Holiday, along with AmeriCorps Member Dan Stiles and AmeriCorps Supervisor Sandy Sutton, both from Garrett County Health Department. A STAR! Garrett County members not pictured include: Garrett County Health Department, Hana Smith, Ashley Roush, Raven Smith; Garrett County Extension Office, Cody Ferguson; Department of Social Services, Jaime White; and Department of Juvenile Services, Anita Rhodes.
The third annual, AmeriCorps Week, which takes place May 9-16, 2009, provides the perfect opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by members—and to motivate more Americans to serve their communities.
AmeriCorps provides opportunities for 75,000 Americans to give back in an intensive way to their communities and country each year. AmeriCorps members do a wide range of things: They recruit, train, and supervise community volunteers, tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, help communities respond to disasters, and build the capacity of nonprofit groups to become self-sustaining, among many other activities.
In exchange for a year of full-time service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725 that can be used to pay for college or graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. Awards are pro-rated for part-time service. Some members also receive a living allowance and health care.
AmeriCorps is celebrating its fifteenth year of service to communities throughout the nation and Garrett County has hosted members since 1994. Currently, members are serving at the Garrett County Extension Office, Garrett County Department of Social Services, Garrett County Health Department, Department of Juvenile Services, and Garrett County Community Action.
To celebrate National AmeriCorps Week, May 9-16, 2009 A STAR Garrett County AmeriCorps members are attending a seizure first aid training at the Garrett County Health Department, volunteering at the Dennett Road Elementary School special needs class, volunteering at a soup kitchen in Baltimore, and attending a “Life After AmeriCorps” event. If you know a current AmeriCorps member or Alumni, take a moment to say, “thank you” for all that they do to get things done.