AmeriCorps Week recognizes the commitment of more than 1.2 million Americans who have chosen to serve their country through AmeriCorps, along with the millions more who have served with AmeriCorps Seniors. AmeriCorps Week also encourages more of our neighbors to participate in community service.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency tasked with elevating service and volunteerism in America, engages more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in national service at more than 40,000 locations each year. Since 2007, more than 60 Weld and Larimer county nonprofits and government agencies have hosted over 200 AmeriCorps VISTA members through the NoCO AmeriCorps Project, which is a partnership between United Way of Larimer County, United Way of Weld County and AmeriCorps. This has brought over $18 million dollars of value and impact to Weld and Larimer counties to alleviate poverty through building capacity and empowering communities with sustainable solutions.
“AmeriCorps VISTA members commit to a year of full-time service to build capacity for local organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development and assist low-income communities,” noted Azia Gilbert, NoCO AmeriCorps Project coordinator at United Way of Weld County. “Members do this by creating print and digital marketing content, assessment tools for evaluating effectiveness, expansion of programs, assisting in grant writing and fundraising, as well as planning and implementing community events like fundraisers and community service days. Many AmeriCorps members serve because they are excited to make a difference, see another part of the country and develop their skills and experience.”
AmeriCorps member host agencies develop capacity building projects and provide supervision; organizations may receive a member for up to three consecutive years. For the current program year, since June 2021, the NoCO AmeriCorps Project has mobilized 282 new community volunteers that have contributed almost 1,500 hours of community service through local nonprofits and governmental agencies. Additionally, a dozen AmeriCorps members were significantly involved in raising $289,782 dollars in grants and donations as well as the equivalent of $11,101 of in-kind donations during this period.
“AmeriCorps has moved our little nonprofit giving garden from a volunteer-run agency that worked with our local school to a garden with year-around staff that not only gives away over a ton of food each year but runs summer camps and after-school programming for local children,” remarked Eileen Bisgard of Brigit’s Bounty Community Resources in Frederick. “We are so grateful to United Way of Weld County and the NoCO AmeriCorps Project for supporting us in serving the needs of our community,” she added.
By bringing people together to serve communities, AmeriCorps is making service an indispensable part of the American experience. AmeriCorps Week is a time to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni for their service, thank AmeriCorps community partners and communicate AmeriCorps impact on communities and on the lives of those who serve.
For more information on the NoCO AmeriCorps Project and AmeriCorps Week, contact Azia Gilbert at azia@unitedway-weld.org or 970-353-4300.
