National Service News: National Service Ready to Help After the Storm

Count on us [] Having trouble viewing this email? [View it as a Web page](. [This satellite image from NOAA shows Hurricane Florence heading toward the east coast on September 12. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)]( National Service Ready to Help After the Storm As Hurricane Florence makes landfall along the East Coast, and tropical storms threaten Hawaii and the Caribbean, our thoughts are with the people and places in the path of the storms. It is encouraging to see evacuees taking the warnings seriously and making preparations to ensure their safety until they can return home. We wish all of them well. Based on the devastation we have seen from past hurricanes, these storm systems could have a tremendous impact on coastal and inland areas. In response, the [Corporation for National and Community Service]( (CNCS) has staged specially trained teams of [AmeriCorps]( members and [Senior Corps]( volunteers to help storm-affected areas begin their recovery after the rains subside. Our efforts are led by the [CNCS Disaster Services Unit]( which coordinates with federal agencies, and state and local emergency officials, nonprofits, faith-based and philanthropic organizations, and other partners to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters. We are reminded about the importance of readiness as the month of September hosts two important events: [National Preparedness Month]( and the [September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance](. September 11th is a solemn reminder of not only those who lost their lives during and responding to the terrorist attack on our nation, but the unity of our citizens and the appropriate response to times of trouble. The families of those who died on 9/11 asked Americans to respond to evil with acts of service, one of which could be helping your family and community prepare for unforeseen events. An easy way to do that is to participate in National Preparedness Month, an effort led by our friends at FEMA. This campaign provides information and guidance to help you plan for all types of disasters, emphasizing that "you are the help until help arrives." These storms (and events) are reminders that we need to make sure we understand the threats that are possible in our communities, and that the best time to prepare for disaster is well before one happens. In service, Michael Cys, Director, Office of External Affairs P.S. Visit the National Service in the News section below for an update on the staging of AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams in response to Hurricane Florence. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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 [AmeriCorps alum and Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin performs a selection from the opera "La Boheme" during the talent portion of the competition.]( [There She Is ... Miss AmeriCorps, uh, America]( AmeriCorps alumna Nia Imani Franklin was crowned Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City, N.J., earlier this week. Franklin, who competed as Miss New York, received a master’s degree in composition from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Music in 2017, and was awarded a Kenan Fellowship at Lincoln Center Education in New York. While pursuing her master's degree, she was a member of ArtistCorps, an artist-driven AmeriCorps service program that places accomplished artists in public schools and community-based institutions to work with high-need students. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Rep. Virginia Foxx joined CNCS CEO Barbara Stewart and AmeriCorps members for a Habitat for Humanity project on the 9/11 Day of Service.]( [Congresswoman Joins AmeriCorps for Habitat Project on 9/11]( On Tuesday, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx joined AmeriCorps members for a volunteer service project in honor of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. She was accompanied by Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Barbara Stewart at a Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County build site in North Carolina. The 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance is the culmination of efforts started by 9/11 family members and support groups to establish the service day as a way to honor victims and heroes of September 11th. CNCS leads this nationwide federal effort that encourages acts of service as tributes to the lives lost in the attacks 17 years ago. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Learn more about National Preparedness Month at Ready.gov]( [September is National Preparedness Month]( The Corporation for National and Community Service joins our friends at FEMA to help spread the word about National Preparedness Month and the importance of being ready for these events when they happen in your community. We encourage you to visit the National Preparedness Month website at [Ready.gov]( to collect information about ways you can help your community get ready for natural and man-made disasters. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [A flower and American flag are left in honor of 9/11 victims at the September 11th Memorial in New York City.]( [An Act of Service is an Act of Patriotism]( (The following is a 9/11 Day op-ed by CNCS CEO Barbara Stewart.) September 11, 2001, will forever be known as a day of tragedy. But in the 17 years since, it has also come to represent something else: hope. In the hours, days, and weeks following that fateful day, Americans did what they do best. In communities from coast to coast, Americans came together to help neighbors and strangers alike. This spirit of unity allowed the nation to heal then, and that same spirit can help us now. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Watch It: New AmeriCorps Recruitment PSA [Watch the new Americorps PSA that will be shown on stations and online across the nation.]( ]( Each week, we provide a social media shareable to use on your networks. This week we are featuring our new "Join AmeriCorps" PSA that was debuted at the AmeriCorps Symposium this week. We want to show the diversity of AmeriCorps programs and the many ways our members serve communities across the nation. This PSA will be made available to traditional media and online platforms to promote the national service program. We thank all the folks at AmeriCorps and our in-house creative team members who collaborated on this video, and you can learn more ways to serve at [AmeriCorps.gov](. Help us spread the word about this video by using the Facebook and Twitter buttons above to share this story on your social media networks. --------------------------------------------------------------- National Service in the News [AmeriCorps Activates Nearly 500 Members for Hurricane Florence Response]( As Hurricane Florence makes landfall, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps and leads the nation’s volunteer efforts, has activated nearly 500 members of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (A-DRT), including FEMA Corps, for immediate response. These teams have been pre-staged and put on standby for rapid deployment. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Charity Turns 9/11 Anniversary Into Day of Service, Not Sadness]( ATT.com Blog Jay Winuk started the 9/11 Day charity to honor his brother, who died in the terror attacks 17 years ago, and to make the anniversary about service and civic engagement, instead of just solemn remembrance. This year, volunteers are organizing food drives for people in the path of Hurricane Florence. [Watch video]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hundreds Of Volunteers Help Feed The Needy As Tribute To Victims Of 9/11]( CBS New York, New York In honor of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, volunteers climbed aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum to help feed the needy. While Tuesday was a somber day of reflection for people across the country, the selfless act of service was a tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks for hundreds of Tri-State residents. “I want to give back to the community and help out,” volunteer Anthony Kearney said. With a little musical motivation, people of all ages and backgrounds joined assembly lines on the Intrepid. They filled, sealed, and boxed up pouches of oatmeal to make more than 750,000 meals for those in need. Annemarie Golden’s 11-year-old granddaughter, Camryn, was right by her side. “I was down at the recovery site on the original date, and this is a good way to make something good out of the day,” Annemarie said. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Remembering 9/11: Volunteers and First Responders Reflect, Give Thanks in Meridian (Senior Corps)]( The Meridian Star, Mississippi For some volunteers, “RSVP” stands for more than “repondez s’il vous plait.” It’s also an acronym for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Among the projects of RSVP Worcester Area Volunteers (WAV) are the Senior Fraud Helpline and the Fraud Squad Players, a troupe of performers age 55 and over who travel throughout Worcester County. Particularly appreciating the volunteers’ efforts is Rita Sullivan. She has served since 2008 as RSVP WAV’s community liaison and special projects coordinator. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [High Schoolers Learn About 9/11 through Service]( KAKE-TV, Kansas Thousands of Kansas high schoolers marked September 11th by observing the National Day of Service and learning the importance of the anniversary in the process. "I was four months old," said Caroline Birkhofer, a student at Goddard's Eisenhower High School. "Well, I was, like, three weeks old when it happened," added her classmate, Madolynn Rink. Abby Scheer said, "I wasn't even born yet." High schoolers today are too young to remember September 11th. But as members of the next generation, they're learning to understand how important the anniversary is. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Students Engage in 9/11 Day of Service]( Florida International University News, Florida This past Saturday, more than 200 students and members of the community convened at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus to take part in the 9/11 National Day of Service, a federally recognized day of unity, charitable service, and remembrance that is observed annually around the world. Participants paid tribute the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks and honored the heroes who selflessly served in response to the catastrophic event. “9/11 National Day of Service is about turning a day of tragedy into a day of helping others and doing good,” said Patty Lopez-Guerrero, director of the Center for Leadership & Service. “Through the spirit of service and unity, we pay tribute to those who were lost and thank our first responders.” [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Foster Grandparents Receive Awards for Service (Senior Corps)]( The Citizens’ Voice, Pennsylvania Four Foster Grandparents were recently honored for 10 years of service in the Foster Grandparent Program. These awards were presented at the 46th Annual Recognition Luncheon for FGP, held at A Touch of Class Catering. Each of the 10-year members received an engraved mantle clock. The local Foster Grandparent Program is sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne/Wyoming Counties and federally funded by the Corporation for National Service. Foster Grandparents are those individuals age 55 or older that meet income eligibility standards and have a desire to work with children. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Four to be Honored with Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards (CNCS)]( The Albany Herald, Georgia Four Albany men will be honored later this month by the Corporation for National and Community Service and Points of Light on behalf of President Trump. They will be recognized with President’s Lifetime Achievement and President’s Volunteer Service awards. The awards will be bestowed upon State Rep. Darrel Ealum, Albany Police officer Travis Goodson, Georgia Storm Troopers Director Steve Owens, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarist Rory Niquette at a time and date yet to be determined. “I really had no idea this was coming,” Ealum said. “I don’t know what to say other than it is an honor to even be considered. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- News You Can Use Seminole State College, Global Service Corps Offer AmeriCorps Alumni Service-Learning Opportunity in Cambodia Through a partnership of Seminole State College (SSC) and Global Service Corps (GSC), AmeriCorps alumni can use the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to participate in service-learning community development programs in [Cambodia](. These programs are offered [throughout the year]( and focus on the areas of public health, teaching English, child and orphan care, youth leadership and community development, and Buddhist immersion. The award can be used to cover all SSC and GSC program fees, all in-country program costs, accommodations and local transportation, international airfare, travel insurance, and related expenses. Click below for more information on how to use the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for these programs. [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](