Service
We have many goals for our AmeriCorps programs: help 3,000
children do better in school, provide 20,000 children with meals during the
summer, provide food for 5,000 families through our food pantry, and recruit
500 volunteers to help expand impact.
We have one unmeasured goal that in many
ways we view as our most important accomplishment: instill in AmeriCorps
members an ethic of service that extends beyond their short term with us.
Member surveys and comments to us suggest we do a pretty good job at this goal.
However, every now and then we are presented with broader proof that we are
reaching our goals.
Today a former member dropped by to let us know that she was
tasked with a class project in her “Psychology of Poverty” course. She
had the option to do research and write a paper or she could do an action
project. She choose an action project.
Drawing upon her tenure as a
summer AmeriCorps member, she decided that she wanted to do two things: raise
funds and recreational equipment to support the summer enrichment activities of
our Food on the Move program and also raise awareness of poverty and childhood
hunger.
She enlisted the help of a few classmates and the management of SportsAuthority. She set up a table at a local Sports Authority, who supported
the project by donating 20% off coupons to be given out. Her only visuals
were a few 8 1/2 by 11 pieces of paper taped to the table and a homemade 3
sided cardboard sign – like the kind kids use for science projects.
Her team welcomed everyone as they entered the store and for
those that stopped, they talked about not just the need in Dallas, but also
about the solution. And she asked them to help with the solution by
donating funds or sports items like balls and jump ropes. Over the course
of two, four hour days this AmeriCorps Alum raised $900 in cash and received
another $100 in sports equipment.
We have a need for both in our summer program; and we will
put the funds to their intended use: buying more balls and jump ropes and
sidewalk chalk…and hula hoops. But our greatest need was met by her actions –
the need to have more citizens committed to a lifetime of service and
attachment to their community.
Dr. Keven Vicknair
Director
CitySquare's AmeriCorps team
No comments:
Post a Comment