VCM AmeriCorps*VISTA Feature

Here's what the VCM VISTAs are working on regarding National Days of Service:

Heart of West Michigan United Way (Teresa)

Day of Caring – September 9th 2011.
The project aims to engage up to 1,000 volunteers through 100 partner agencies to address a wide range of community needs including park beautification, domestic violence reduction, hunger reduction, etc. Teresa is responsible for the development of three skills-based volunteer opportunities that will engage private sector HR employees to raise awareness of domestic violence issues in the workplace.

Volunteer Lenawee! (Anthony)
Canned Food Drive

City of Adrian, William G. Thompson House, Moe’s Pizzeria, Adrian Public Library, Lenawee YOUTH Council and the Michigan Community Service Commission have teamed up to coordinate a canned food drive. The project will enlist the help of 4-5 different partner agencies that will collect canned food contributions and recruit volunteers to create sculptures using the cans.

The sculptures will be featured in the Historic Adrian City Chamber building, with prizes being awarded for the top sculptures. The proceeds and canned food will be donated to the South Central Michigan Food Bank. Anthony is working with partners to coordinate volunteer responsibilities.

Char-Em United Way (Ben)
Day of Caring – September 15th

Char-Em United Way has partnered with two county agencies on aging to determine the needs of local elderly residents. Twenty-one elderly homes will be fixed up and manicured thanks to 20 teams of 150 volunteers – not including all of Charlevoix High School’s students! Volunteers will also tackle twenty-eight additional projects that have been identified by local area partners that will address such community needs as hunger reduction and park beautification. Ben is currently working to coordinate volunteer leader responsibilities to guide the efforts of the volunteer teams in addition to coordinating logistical matters with partners and local area businesses.