Lori Schmiege & Huey Gordon

RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

May 3, 2023

National Service Alumni of the Year Huey Gordon & Lorie Schmiege, CARITAS, Richmond Both AmeriCorps Alums with CARITAS, the dynamic duo of Lori Schmiege and Huey Gordon manage the CARITAS Furniture Bank operations. Lori, who served from 2010-2011, and Huey, who served from 2011-2012, both react with empathy and a resolve to “get things done,” attitudes they developed as members. They are also both willing and happy to coach and mentor other AmeriCorps members and ultimately show these members how to be excellent employees when they move on to the workforce. Since joining CARITAS staff, they have mentored 40 AmeriCorps members — that’s 40 hires, 40 written performance development plans and over 100 reviews, and 40 lives touched with daily coaching and mentoring! The tenure of service between Huey and Lori makes them a unique team spreading their light and big hearts within the CARITAS organization while doing the hard work that needs to be done. Read more Volunteer Stories! Submit a Story!

Frank Lott

Story of Service: Frank Lott

AmeriCorps member Frank Lott has not allowed the current COVID-19 pandemic to stop him from serving his community. As an AmeriCorps member at CARITAS AmeriCorps, Frank provides essential community services as well as support for clients in their recovery and assistance with developing workforce readiness. Frank started his training to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in January as a part of his service. When COVID hit, Frank dove into alternate service activities by training with and taking calls for 2-1-1 VIRGINIA. Volunteers have been very successful in providing information and resources to thousands of individuals in need. Because...

Samantha Bradley

Story of Service: Samantha Bradley

Teaming Up with an AmeriCorps Member to Make Her Dream of a Military Career Come True Teresa Thompson, an AmeriCorps member with the Carroll County Public Schools Lift Up AmeriCorps and winner of the 2015 Robert E. Wone Award, recently shared an inspirational story about the impact of national service on a young person in her program. Teresa says student Samantha Bradley described herself in the past as a troubled teenager, but completely changed her outlook after the birth of her son. Working up to three jobs in addition to attending school where she excelled in her school work, Determined...

Francine Nelson

Story of Service: Francine Nelson

Senior Corps RSVP Volunteer of the Year Francine Nelson, Volunteer Prince William, Manassas Francine Nelson, a retired educator, has dedicated her time and talents teaching fourth grade students in Prince William County the skills they need to handle being at home alone at the end of the school day. The ‘Safe at Home Safe Alone” program is a partnership between Volunteer Prince William, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, American Red Cross and Prince William County Sheriff’s Office. Ms. Nelson’s participation in the program has reached more than 1,700 students, many of whom attend Title I schools. Her calm...

Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church and Church of the Incarnation

Story of Service: Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church and Church of the Incarnation

Congratulations to Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church and Church of the Incarnation of Charlottesville - winner of the 2021 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Faith-Based Organization! The dynamic duo of Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church and Church of the Incarnation are well known in the Charlottesville community for their outreach efforts and commitment to service. Since May 2020, these organizations joined forces with the University of Virginia Health System and the Blue Ridge Health District to conduct free COVID-19 testing events at each church. In addition to church leaders and staff, approximately 300individuals from the...

Wallace Green

Story of Service: Wallace Green

Congratulations to Wallace Green of Virginia Beach -- winner of the 2017 Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Senior Volunteer! When Wallace Green realized that the main causes for his kidney failure were a lack of knowledge, his choices in diet, and the type of medications prescribed -- he became a one-man champion for the cause of prevention. Wallace coordinates, plans, and participates in health fairs; offers free presentations; and organizes fundraising events. If there is a health event in the community, you can be assured Wallace is there. Last year, he single-handedly provided health education to...

AmeriCorps Assists After Tornado

Story of Service: AmeriCorps Assists After Tornado

When the devastating tornadoes swept through Appomattox County last week, hundreds of volunteers immediately appeared to support the affected families. Among the volunteers, 16 ready-to-serve AmeriCorps members were deployed to assist with debris removal and cleanup. Virginia State Parks Virginia Service and Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program worked alongside volunteers from the community and faith-based groups to lend a helping hand. The Conservation Corps normally serves at parks throughout Virginia to work on projects like trail building, volunteer recruitment, and interpretive programming. Their outdoor project skills make them ideal to serve during times of disaster. One member commented about how they...

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