AmeriCorps members complete service projects for Upper Valley Haven to honor National Day of Service and improve their community
Vermont Business Magazine VHCB AmeriCorps Members gathered for a full day of service projects on the annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. Members supported the Upper Valley Haven on projects for their afterschool program, food shelf, and adult shelter. In addition to the service projects, members participated in a conversation with the Haven’s Volunteer Services Coordinator, Matt Pickell, about non-profit community collaborations and barriers to providing services to the community.
VHCB AmeriCorps members typically serve as the only member at their host sites, local nonprofits focused on housing and conservation around Vermont. The MLK Day of service is a chance for the members to reunite in service, deepening their connections with each other and joining together for a common goal.
“My highlight was getting to serve in another food pantry program – to see things that are different, see things that are similar – and it’s inspiring to see the things that I can go back to my service and apply there” said Caleb Kapp, AmeriCorps member serving at Foodworks through Groundworks Collaborative in Brattleboro.
Another member, Kyra Monsam, remarked that she was confused at first by the Upper Valley Haven, because “they seem to do everything here, it’s a one-stop shop for housing support, food shopping, hot meals, even childcare, and that’s awesome.”
By the end of the day, VHCB AmeriCorps members with the help from Upper Valley Haven staff had prepared over fifty portions of three different hot meals to go to community members through the hot lunch program, prepared and packaged local vegetables and dairy products for the food shelf, and reorganized the spare clothing, books, and art supplies for the afterschool program, in addition to making a snack for children in the program.
MLK day has long been a “day on, not a day off” for AmeriCorps members because it is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service. The VHCB AmeriCorps program looks forward to this day each year. By participating in service projects, members help demonstrate that joining together in service can unify Americans of different backgrounds and experiences to transform unjust systems and make lasting changes in the communities in which they live and serve.
VHCB AmeriCorps is a national service project that places AmeriCorps members with affordable housing, land conservation and environmental education organizations statewide. Members increase the capacity and effectiveness of the organization where they serve while gaining leadership skills and connecting with the mission and goals of a community based nonprofit organization. Learn more at www.vhcb.org/our-programs/vhcb-americorps.
Source: 1.16.2024. Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
