AmeriCorps Assists After Tornado

May 3, 2023

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 were honored to be able to help the Appomattox community saying, “I’m glad to be a part of such a hard-working and dedicated crew. Thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and there is plenty more work to be done.”

For more information on the Virginia State Parks Virginia Service and Conservation Corps program, contact Cynthia Juarez at 540-623-6302, cynthia.juarez@dcr.virginia.gov.

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

Tommy & Jimmy Davis

Story of Service: Tommy & Jimmy Davis

Congratulations to Tommy & Jimmy Davis of Mechanicsville - winner of the 2018 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Volunteer Family! For more than 15 years, brothers Tommy and Jimmy Davis dedicated their time and talents to providing much needed home repairs and re-building efforts to individuals and families in need. It was Tommy who first became dedicated to home repair outreach when on a mission trip to Romania. Later, he recruited his younger brother Jimmy to help with disaster relief following Hurricane Katrina. The brothers would later commit their lives to service through Resurrection Disaster Relief, a home repair...

Patriot Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Club

Story of Service: Patriot Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Club

Students at Patriot High School are encouraged to develop their full leadership potential, demonstrate integrity, understand the importance of character, and consistently display pride: pride in their accomplishments, community, and school. Members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Club used these values as they answered the call to serve in their local community. Each year, the students engaged in the Patriot FCCLA Club come together to contribute their time and talent to support the local community. By hosting events and service projects, club members seek to make a difference and leave a legacy that contributes to the...

Rosalie Chisolm

Story of Service: Rosalie Chisolm

Rosalie Chisolm joined AmeriCorps because she wanted to help underserved communities through meaningful service. She recalls, "I knew that in this work I would be able to directly see the impact that I was making on a daily basis and know that my service is meaningful and useful. This opportunity has allowed me to explore career paths, and has also developed my personal growth, resilience, and self-discovery." Though she originally wanted to serve in the Peace Corps, Rosalie found an AmeriCorps position at her university's career fair and decided to apply. She recalls, "When I found out that there was...

Esha Venkat

Story of Service: Esha Venkat

At 20 years old, Esha has already built a global movement rooted in kindness, equity, and service. As co-founder and COO of NEST4US, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she launched at age ten, Esha leads a network of more than 8,000 volunteers working across five core programs to address hunger, poverty, education, mental health, and sustainability. What began as a small family project has evolved into an international organization that has donated over 300,000 meals, delivered millions of dollars’ worth of resources, and empowered more than 100,000 youth worldwide. Through NEST4US programs including NEST Nurtures, NEST Tutors, NEST Kares, NEST Buddies, and...

Justin Hu & Shayla Young

Story of Service: Justin Hu & Shayla Young

Virginia's top two youth volunteers of 2019, Justin Hu, 16, of Vienna and Shayla Young, 13, of Springfield, were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer service during the 24th annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Justin and Shayla – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received a $1,000 award and personal congratulations from award-winning actress Viola Davis at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals...

The Blanco Family

Story of Service: The Blanco Family

Congratulations to The Blanco Family - winner of the 2020 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Volunteer Family! Located in Fairfax Station, the Workhouse Arts Center is a vibrant and thriving visual and performing arts center which operates a multitude of programs for the community. The center relies on a strong team of dedicated volunteers to ensure their arts, education, history, and community programs run smoothly. Enter the Blanco Family! For the past 10 years, the entire family serves as an integral part of making the center a huge success in connecting the community with the arts. The...

What’s Your Volunteer Personality?

Pair your passion with purpose. Take our Volunteer Personality Quiz and find out which volunteer direction is best for you.