In January, AmeriCorps announced the deployment of 70 AmeriCorps NCCC teams to 32 states to address a wide range of service projects, including financial assistance, conversation, home security, youth camp and education initiatives, restoring habitat, mitigating ecological and community fuel risks, and much more. AmeriCorps NCCC members are 18 to 26 years old and serve full-time on teams, traveling to a series of different 6- to 12-week projects in different places during their 10-month term, bringing a burst of energy and productivity to the community organizations they serve.

In Virginia, we were thrilled to have AmeriCorps NCCC Team Bayou 1 undertake a project in Pulaski recently, serving at the local nonprofit, Beans and Rice, Inc. Beans and Rice works to improve the lives of low to moderate-income individuals and families by focusing on food security, family stability, and youth development. Their programs include a food panty and mobile food market, academic enrichment programs, a workforce development hub and micro-credit and loan program, and more. With eight AmeriCorps NCCC members, Team Bayou 1 is a fun and easygoing group that enjoys hard work. Together, this team and local nonprofit were able to make great strides during this recent AmeriCorps NCCC project. 

The primary focus of Team Bayou 1’s service with Beans and Rice was to organize and clean out the basement of the nonprofit’s building in preparation for future repurposing. This included helping clean out an area that will become living space for future AmeriCorps NCCC teams and other volunteers. The team also sorted, cleaned, and assisted in repurposing miscellaneous goods that they found while cleaning out the space and also sorted and shredded more than a decade’s worth of sensitive records that were no longer needed. They also added a new mural to the space, created by AmeriCorps NCCC member Katie. Adding up to about 50 hours to complete, this was her first-ever mural and she’s proud to leave her mark with such an impactful organization.

While in Pulaski, the AmeriCorps NCCC team stayed at First Christian Church, sleeping on cots in their Sunday school rooms. In their down time, team members enjoyed hiking on Draper Mountain, dining at Mochi’s Cafe, meeting up with AmeriCorps NCCC alumni, utilizing showers and other amenities at the YMCA of Pulaski County, and sharing home-cooked meals in the church’s kitchen.

In addition to their formal service project at Beans & Rice, the team also accomplished independent service projects in Pulaski on evenings and weekends, including:

• Healing Hearts Animal Rescue: The team went a couple times each week to walk and play with their younger dogs, sit and socialize their timid dogs, and share information about resources available through Beans & Rice.
• Dublin Volunteer Fire Department: The team spent a Saturday morning assisting in the clean up of newly obtained property of the county along the New River that is planned to become a public park. Tasks included piling sticks, logs, and other brush to be thrown into the wood-chipper, picking up and bagging trash, and collecting tires from the grounds.
• YMCA of Pulaski County: The team helped complete a deep clean of the facility over one weekend and one team member reported, "It felt especially meaningful to give back to an organization that took such good care of the team."
• Pulaski County Library: The team spent their last day in Pulaski volunteering at the local library to help them reorganize their paper cutting tools. They also helped sort, stamp, and bag up discarded books that will be redistributed to community’s youth at no cost.

Reflecting on their time at Beans and Rice, AmeriCorps NCCC member Tia really appreciated the autonomy given to the clients that utilize the food pantry. She says, “I’ve never seen a food pantry that takes dietary limitations and preferences into consideration, so Beans and Rice is one-of-a-kind for doing so.” 

Since 2000, AmeriCorps NCCC teams have assisted more than 20 million people in disaster areas, recruited or coordinated nearly 1 million volunteers, assisted more than 33,000 veterans, served more than 6 million meals, protected more than 1.6 million acres of land through firefighting and fire management, and so much more. Learn more about AmeriCorps NCCC and other streams of service at servevirginia.org/get-involved/campaign-join-americorps.