Serving Those Who Served Our Nation
With Military Appreciation Month, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day all falling within the month of May, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) encourages everyone to take a few moments to consider the debt of gratitude we owe to our active duty military members and veterans.
They have been, are, and always will be heroes in our eyes.
America's active duty, Guard and Reserve forces represent a small percentage of the U.S. population, yet the responsibilities they have shouldered during our country's history are great. Their sacrifices made in defense of our nation throughout history make the freedoms we enjoy possible.
CNCS is extremely proud that more than 20,000 veterans choose to serve their country again though our AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs, which assist 500,000 veterans and military families each year. It is a connection we are honored to have.
The ways veterans serve through national service are wide-ranging.There are veterans who serve as teachers in schools or mentor youth, providing an example they can follow. Some mentor their fellow veterans as they pursue a higher education after their active duty is done, serve as advocates in Veterans Courts, or provide important transportation to VA medical facilities.
We do our part to help as many of our AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers support military families through after-school programs or by providing companionship to elder veterans that creates new friendships.
This weekend we encourage you to take a few moments to think about the brave men and women who have stood on the frontlines in defense of this nation -- especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice -- and remember to thank them for their service.
It's the least we can do for those who have done so much for us.
In service,
CNCS Office of External Affairs
P.S. Our thoughts are with communities across the Midwest that are recovering from severe storms and tornadoes. CNCS Disaster Services teams are joining the response, and we will share stories on our social media channels as they become available.
P.P.S. Our main photo shows Air Force Senior Airman Craig Jozwiak holding an American flag during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Intrepid Spirit Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on May 2, 2019. The Intrepid Spirit Center specializes in post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.
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.
At a table outside Alyson Williams’ classroom at Enos Elementary School, first grader Kamya Small settles in with a pair of books. “Are you going to read for me?” asks Elizabeth McDaniel, in a soft-spoken voice. Kamya opens up a weathered counting book held together by binding tape called “Feast for 10,” about an African-American family preparing and cooking dinner, and begins to describe the characters in detail, even assigning ages to them. “Two pumpkins for…,” Kamya begins reading.
McDaniel is in her element being around children. She was the 11th in a line of 13 children, growing up in Harvey, a south suburb of Chicago. Although she only had only one child of her own, she helped raise more than 60 foster children. Now at 98 years old, she’s a Foster Grandparent to a whole classroom of children.
About 400 Habitat AmeriCorps members are spending the week building homes in Raleigh. The members are working at Raleigh's Crosstown neighborhood, a neighborhood that will be home to 100 Habitat For Humanity of Wake County built homes. AmeriCorps is a national service program and the build-a-thon happens once a year bringing service members together from all over the nation. "We have people from Honolulu, Chicago, and Charlotte, so, from far away and close and so many different building styles but all AmeriCorps so we can all relate to each other," explained C.J. Hamilton, a Raleigh-based AmeriCorps national member. (You can watch story video here.)
Fifth- and sixth-grade students at St. Paul Lutheran School showed off the public speaking skills they’d learned over the past six weeks Thursday by presenting speeches on topics about which they care. The Speak Up program was a collaborative effort between St. Paul and volunteers with RSVP — Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Kayla Gratton, the school’s fifth- and sixth-grade teacher, said two volunteers from RSVP came to her classroom once a week to teach her students how to structure a speech for public speaking.
Share It: Habitat for Humanity Build-a-Thon
   Each week, we provide a social media shareable for your networks.This week, hundreds of AmeriCorps members from across the nation traveled to North Carolina to build more than 100 homes during the the Habitat for Humanity Build-a-Thon in Raleigh. Habitat is sharing the stories of four Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps members who explained how national service has changed their lives. Click the buttons above to learn more and share this story through your social media networks.
Clarion Herald, Louisiana
Recently, an 8-year-old girl spotted Phyllis Bolden at Walgreen’s and ran straight into her arms, exclaiming, “Grandma! I miss you!” Although she wasn’t Bolden’s flesh-and-blood granddaughter, the child had developed a special bond with the 69-year-old after having been under her wing during ages 2 and 3 – through Catholic Charities’ Foster Grandparent program. In operation for more than 35 years, the program pairs seniors ages 55 years and older with youngsters who need a little extra, one-on-one attention in the classroom. "It’s just a joy, this program. It keeps me young,” said Bolden, a Foster Grandparent who volunteers 40 hours a week.
Wisconsin State Journal, Wisconsin
An after school program from Dane County has been given close to $400,000 in federal funds to continue serving youths at 25 sites in six communities. The Partners for After School Success (PASS) AmeriCorps program is getting over $386,000 from the Corporation for National and Community Service, so 52 AmeriCorps members can provide literacy tutoring, after school work focusing on social-emotional skills and getting young people to volunteer. The 25 host sites in Madison, Sun Prairie, McFarland, Oregon, Verona and Middleton are in predominantly low-income and low-resource areas, targeting middle school and high school students to better their academic achievement and school engagement.
South Texas Catholic, Texas
(Editor's note: The Rebuild Texas Fund, a collaboration between the OneStar Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, provided more than $608,000 to help Refugio County Memorial Hospital repairs.) After a disaster like Hurricane Harvey, it takes a village to put a village back together. Thousands of organizations have applied to FEMA for financial help with their recovery, in addition to any insurance payouts and support they have received from their local communities. When that is not enough, organizations can still turn to FEMA for guidance.
“Our role is to assist those entities that are ineligible for state or federal assistance … or to identify funding opportunities when there is a gap in coverage,” said Margaret Adams, a philanthropy adviser for FEMA. “I work a lot with local organizations and local foundations, building partnerships between those different groups.” Recently, Adams and FEMA’s Hurricane Harvey philanthropy team helped build a relationship between the Refugio County Memorial Hospital and the Rebuild Texas Fund, which filled a vital need to help the hospital back on its feet. (Click here to see a FEMA video about the project.)
Oswego County Today, New York
AmeriCorps members held a diaper drive to benefit the Oswego County Pregnancy Care Center. Alongside the Oswego Community Christian School dozens of packages of diapers and wipes were collected. As a result of the generosity of the community, numerous families will be able to receive these necessities. AmeriCorps is a federally funded program. Its mission is to enhance services for children and families in Oswego County by providing nutrition education and fitness activities in the community. Oswego County has the highest obesity rate among children in New York State.
Metro Atlanta CEO, Georgia
Marking the 25th year of partnership with AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity will hire 325 AmeriCorps members for the 2019-20 service year with the support of a $4.93 million federal grant. The funds from the Corporation for National and Community Service will enable AmeriCorps members to contribute more than 552,000 hours of service in 125 communities across the U.S. during the 2019-20 service year.
“AmeriCorps members play an essential role in Habitat’s work to help families achieve strength, stability and self-reliance through homeownership,” said Mark Andrews, senior vice president of operations for Habitat for Humanity International. “The impact that AmeriCorps members make when serving local communities and Habitat homeowners is profound, and we thank them for their commitment to Habitat’s mission."
Washington Times Herald, Indiana
On Monday, more than 80 Washington Catholic Elementary students gathered at the Eastside Park Community Building to meet with their pen pals, volunteers from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program better known as RSVP. "We had 81 third, fourth and fifth graders participate," said RSVP Executive Director Kim Herbertz. "They were paired with 73 RSVP volunteers who corresponded throughout the year and got to know each other through the letters. For some of the students, it was the first time they've met their pen pal. Other students have corresponded over the last three years.
The Hays Daily News, Kansas
Once a month, I volunteer at a meal center to help serve food to people who are in need. Prepping and serving the dinner is a busy yet fun team activity of five to six people, organized by two generous souls. Despite the many other things that I need to do, I really look forward to meeting and serving the patrons, even if only briefly. Although my motivation begins with wanting to help others and being grateful for what I have been given, it is joy that helps bring me back when I am very busy. I first noticed this some time ago: At the end of our shift, after the kitchen and dining room have been cleaned up, I would experience a lightness of being, a sense of satisfaction and reconnection to purpose. It just feels good.
CNCS National Day of Service Grants offer the chance to be a part of national service and do something amazing with and for your community. This year’s grant opportunity offers more streamlined requirements, greater funding flexibility, and the freedom to design projects that will have the greatest impact for your community.
Whether you are interested in the grant for the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, or both, we urge you to learn more, start planning, and apply. The application deadline is June 19, 2019.
We are hosting a webinar to share more information about this funding opportunity and the application process. The webinar is Wednesday, May 29, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. (You can register for the webinar here.)
Please help us spread the word and share this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) with your community partners, grantees, and affiliates.
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