National Service News: The Healing Power of Service

When you help others, you can't help helping yourself [] Having trouble viewing this email? [View it as a Web page](. [Iraq combat veteran and AmeriCorps member Teddy Rivera plays with children during a soccer club party. (Photo by Mark Mulville/Buffalo News)]( The Healing Power of Service If you're reading this, you probably understand that service has the power to heal life's wounds, both seen and unseen. We wanted to share one of those stories today. Teddy Rivera (pictured above), an Iraq combat veteran, still carries the scars of his time on the battlefield, according to a [Buffalo News profile](. Rivera lost the spark that once defined his personality as he recovers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that followed his deployment to an area called the "deadliest road in Iraq." However, through a chance encounter with the executive director of a local recreation program in Buffalo, he got involved with children through Soccer for Success, a Corporation for National and Community Service grantee. The connections Rivera made through the program helped him emerge from the darkness he felt while continuing his treatment for PTSD. Rivera is now an AmeriCorps site leader for the program and is known as "every parent's favorite coach," even though he had to learn the game on the fly. He told The Buffalo News, "I think when I started to know these kids really need me, that's when I started to let people back into my life." (We encourage you to read this inspirational story for yourself at [The Buffalo News website]( There are thousands, if not millions, of stories like Rivera's about the ways service transforms the lives of people who give their time to help others. We know that our [AmeriCorps]( members and [Senior Corps]( volunteers experience this phenomenon daily while they provide vital services and support at 50,000 locations around the nation. We also know that programs such as Soccer for Success demonstrate their impact on communities by improving the health of the thousands of children who participate in the program. [An independent evaluation of]( for Success]( found that kids enrolled in the program decreased their body mass index (BMI) percentiles, transitioned to healthier BMI percentile categories, decreased their waist circumference size, and improved their aerobic capacity compared to children not in the program. Facts don't lie. We want to thank Teddy Rivera for his service to our country and his community. His story is a shining example of the healing power of service. In Service, CNCS Office of External Affairs P.S. In case you missed it, we are sharing an op-ed from CNCS CEO Barbara Stewart about renewing the agency's commitment to national service. Scroll down to read more. --------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's note: By clicking the links below, you may be connecting to websites created by parties other than the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The CNCS Office of External Affairs provides links to these stories because they contain information that may be useful or interesting to the national service and volunteering community. These links are for reference only, and CNCS does not endorse the individuals or organizations associated with these links, and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided by websites outside of our control. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Impact of National Service [CNCS renews its commitment to national service in America.]( Renewing our Commitment to National Service in America (The following is an op-ed by CNCS CEO Barbara Stewart published on July 4.) Volunteering has been a part of the nation’s fabric even before the United States declared its independence 242 years ago. In the spirit of that ethic of service, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is proud to uphold the tradition of volunteering to keep America strong and make it a better place for all people. At CNCS, we are guided by a simple mission: to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. This year 300,000 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers – ranging from teenagers to centenarians and every age in between – are giving their time and energy to address some of the nation’s greatest challenges. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Margaret Urcinoa of Hagerstown, left, chats with Meals on Wheels volunteer Anita Kay after she received her meal delivery.]( [When Washington County People Need Food and Care, Meals on Wheels Delivers (Senior Corps)]( For Washington County residents who receive food from Meals on Wheels, the program is a lifeline. It provides not only needed meals, but companionship and caring volunteers who check on them on a regular basis. "You know, we do the most important service in the world. It truly is," Meals on Wheels volunteer Penny Smith said. She and her husband, George Smith, have been delivering meals for about five years in Washington County. "We don't get paid, but we sure get rewarded," she said. "We meet truly wonderful people. It's just a way of giving back." Most volunteers are part of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program through Washington County Commission on Aging. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Mercy Serves AmeriCorps members serve as volunteers in acute care settings, gaining valuable experience for their health care careers.]( [Mercy Serves AmeriCorps Program Makes a Difference in Community]( Did you know that Mercy Health offers one of the only AmeriCorps programs in the country that places volunteers in acute care settings? The Mercy Serves AmeriCorps program is an excellent opportunity for college seniors and recent graduates looking to start their career or enter grad school in a health-related field. The Mercy Serves AmeriCorps program provides members a chance to gain experience and make connections while earning stipends that help pay off college loans or support future educational endeavors. Beyond that, they receive the opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Watch It: Breaking the Cycle of Incarceration [New Hope Oklahoma AmeriCorps member Piang Lian works on an art project with a program participant.]( ]( Each week, we provide a social media shareable to use on your networks. This week we are sharing a video about New Hope Oklahoma AmeriCorps members serving to help children break the cycle of generational incarceration through after-school and community programming, summer camps, and retreats. [Visit the New Hope Oklahoma site]( to learn more about this unique program that serves 400 children across the Sooner state. And be sure to check out the video above and use the buttons to share this story on your social media networks. --------------------------------------------------------------- National Service in the News [30 Years of Research: Learn How AmeriCorps VISTA Strengthens Communities]( CNCS Office of Research and Evaluation AmeriCorps VISTA members are talented, dedicated individuals whose service builds the capacity of community nonprofit organizations that aim to improve economic outcomes. [The CNCS Office of Research and Evaluation created an infographic]( that shows how VISTA’s 8,500 members help boost capacity, build stronger communities, and leave a lasting impact. After you review the infographic, read the VISTA 50-Year Review for a more detailed picture of the research of this poverty-fighting program. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Grandkids On-Demand: Programs Pair Millennials with Senior Citizens (Senior Corps)]( ABC News A recent Cigna study examined the impact of loneliness in the United States, surveying more than 20,000 adult Americans. While almost half (46 percent) said they feel "alone," what was also shocking was that the category of "adults ages 18-22 is the loneliest generation." Papa, which pairs seniors with millennials, isn't the only option for elders who need help, companionship, or even want to get out of the house. The Corporation for National and Community Service has a segment of volunteers called "Senior Corps." Senior Corps offers an array of options, including one to become foster grandparents for children with disabilities, troubled teens, and more. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Teens Practice Environmental Stewardship in Tacoma Parks (AmeriCorps)]( Tacoma Weekly, Washington Metro Parks Tacoma, Mount Rainier National Park, and the nonprofit Northwest Youth Corps are again jointly sponsoring Sound to Summit (S2S), a work experience project modeled after the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps. Twenty Tacoma-area 16- to 18-year-olds were recruited for two, five-week programs, which kicked off in Tacoma on June 18. The crews are spending the first four weeks in and around sites managed by Metro Parks Tacoma. The final week takes place at Mount Rainier National Park. Participants engage in conservation projects at both locations. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Retiree Shares How She Found Her Ideal Volunteer Opportunity (Senior Corps)]( Lorton Patch, Virginia "When I retired I knew I wanted to volunteer, says RSVP Northern Virginia volunteer Pat Dubois. " I wasn't sure what opportunities really suited me," Pat says. Pat was seeking an opportunity that offered flexibility, would afford her the chance to meet other retirees and one that would allow her to serve the community. Two years ago she found all three thanks to RSVP Northern Virginia. Pat says now "I cannot imagine not volunteering." RSVP Northern Virginia is a program of Volunteer Fairfax, Volunteer Arlington, and Volunteer Alexandria. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Early Literacy Promotes Lifelong Success (AmeriCorps)]( Mankato Times, Minnesota AmeriCorps LEAP Initiative is another way we facilitate early literacy. LEAP stands for Learning Early Achieves Potential, which is the mantra that guides this program. Each year between 10 to 20 AmeriCorps members are placed throughout the region at preschools and nonprofit organizations. Our members work on social and emotional development with children who are at risk of falling behind. Reading exercises are a major part of the program. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [NEW: Library Has Gone to the Dogs (and Birds and Reptiles) (AmeriCorps)]( The Bend Bulletin, Oregon When children see Mia MacCollin and her registered therapy dog, Callie, walk into the East Bend Public Library, their eyes light up. “The kids just love, love, love Callie,” said Chandra vanEijnsbergen, the community librarian who coordinates the Paws to Read program at that Deschutes Public Library branch. Animal Adventures is coordinated by the High Desert Museum in Bend in partnership with libraries in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. Two AmeriCorps volunteer education specialists are assigned to the High Desert Museum each year and work with museum staff to plan a series of themed, interactive presentations designed for 3- to 5-year-olds. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Public Allies Program Helps Disadvantaged Young Adults Find Jobs in Nonprofit Sector (AmeriCorps)]( Bay News 9, Florida Inside Community Based Care of Central Florida, Crystal Alicea is a familiar face. She is not a current employee, but an apprentice. She is part of the intense AmeriCorps program called Public Allies Central Florida. Public Allies is competitive and designed for people wanting to find a place in the world of nonprofits and government. “It is pretty much a full time job. They work approximately 42.5 hours a week, and you really have to have those people that want to have that. They have to have that drive, and they want to be able to buy into the process,” said Danielle Abbey, a former Public Allies graduate and CBC of Central Florida communications manager. It might not seem like a big deal, but to Alicea -- a former foster kid -- it’s everything. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [All About Tulsa's Long-Running Retired Senior Volunteer Program (Senior Corps)]( Public Radio Tulsa, Oklahoma Our guest is Karen Dills, the executive director of RSVP of Tulsa. The acronym officially stands for "Retired Senior Volunteer Program" -- and as noted at the website for this long-running non-profit: "RSVP serves as a one-stop clearinghouse to connect volunteers, age 55 and over, with meaningful community service. There is an RSVP match for everyone who wants to remain active in their local community. Volunteers have a choice from serving at their favorite non-profit agency, or being matched with an agency to develop new skills or interests, or participating in one of several RSVP-sponsored community impact projects." [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [SEACAB Cleanup Targets Illegal Trash Dump in Little Hollywood (AmeriCorps)]( The Eastern Arizona Courier, Arizona With illegal trash dumps spread through Little Hollywood, as previously reported by the Courier, and stretching north toward the Gila River, Southeastern Arizona Clean and Beautiful (SEACAB) moved to help tackle the problem this week. Standing in a dirt road between Little Hollywood and the river, SEACAB board chairman Tim Linden painted the scene in five words: “It’s a mess down here.” It was early Tuesday morning; SEACAB volunteers and the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team serving with them had turned out to clean up the site, across the street from Little Hollywood. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [AmeriCorps]( | [Senior Corps]( | [Volunteer Generation Fund]( [NationalService.gov]( | [Manage Preferences]( [twitter link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to {EMAIL} using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Corporation for National & Community Service · 250 E. Street SW · Washington, DC 20525 · (202) 606- 5000 · (800) 833-3722 [GovDelivery logo](