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 the calls were increasingly complex in nature and shifting away from COVID-19, at the end of April, they anticipated that people will need to rely more and more on community resources. Frank and others were transitioned to the outreach team to verify program information and do some research on available resources throughout the commonwealth. In addition to all this service (Tuesday – Friday hours), on Mondays, Frank volunteers with Food Outreach at his local church, Garden of Gethsemane Ministries, bagging and distributing meals.
Now that CARITAS is slowly re-opening, Frank will be squeezing in some of the activities he originally signed up for. In a time where the organization is unable to welcome back interns and volunteers, his service is more needed than ever. In addition to all of this service, Frank completed his training and received his VA Certification as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and is working on his national certification. Thank you Frank for being such a wonderful example of a aservant-leader in the Richmond community! Congrats to Frank on earning his certification!!
Doswell Limited Partnership
Story of Service: Doswell Limited Partnership
Congratulations to Doswell Limited Partnership of Ashland - winner of the 2021 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Small Business! Doswell Limited Partnership (DLP) recognizes the fact that residents of Hanover County can benefit in many ways from their position in the community and their access to resources. DLP, an affiliate of LS Power and owner of the Doswell natural gas power generation facility located in Ashland, employs 32 individuals and is capable of providing energy to meet the needs of more than1.2 million area homes in the Commonwealth of Virginia. DLP has made a commitment to supporting...
ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Story of Service: ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
2024 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Award honoree the ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an entrepreneurial accelerator dedicated to providing economic development to veterans and underserved or disadvantaged individuals. Through its collective programs in the past year, the Institute provided 4,055 thirty-minute counseling sessions, created 498 new entrepreneurs, established 54 startup businesses, enabled 76 contracts totaling $13 million, and created 498 new jobs. Despite a significant military footprint, Hampton Roads experiences significant challenges in social mobility and financial wellbeing. The Institute recognizes this and works to create grant strategies to assist these populations. These strategies include the Veterans...
Lee Bernstein
Story of Service: Lee Bernstein
Lee Bernstein serves with the Virginia College Advising Corps as a College Adviser at Rappahannock County High School in Washington, VA and is one of the highest performing advisers in Virginia College Advising Corps (VCAC) history. She not only exceeds expectations in every aspect of her role, but she epitomizes servant leadership in all she does. Starting in August 2020, Lee is the second college adviser to serve Rappahannock County High School. During a time when many school staff and college advisers were discouraged, Lee served her students with efficacy and grit, relentlessly pursuing one-on-one and small group meetings with...
Evan Nied
Story of Service: Evan Nied
In his volunteer service, Evan Nied has made notable contributions on the local and national levels. He is the founder of Planting Shade, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has planted more than 14,000 trees through 10 local chapters in 7 states. Planting Shade also hosts educational events for students to learn the benefits of planting trees. Since starting Planting Shade on his own, Evan has forged relationships with arborists and forestry agencies in Virginia and elsewhere; collaborated with private landowners, country clubs, homeowners' associations, and colleges to identify places to plant trees; solicited cash and in-kind contributions ranging from regional...
Virginia Latino Higher Education Network
Story of Service: Virginia Latino Higher Education Network
Congratulations to Virginia Latino Higher Education Network of Weems - winner of the 2019 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Community Organization! The Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN) is a positive catalyst in the lives of hundreds of Virginia’s Hispanic students. VALHEN is the only state-wide, volunteer-driven, nonprofit which supports, promotes, and advocates for Latino success and advancement in higher education, to ensure that every Hispanic/Latino in Virginia is college and career ready. VALHEN has shown remarkable success through its four programs: the Hispanic College Institute, the Scholarship Program; the Lecture Series, and the annual Encuentro meeting of...
Virginia Beach Medical Reserve Corps
Story of Service: Virginia Beach Medical Reserve Corps
Comprised of medical and public health professionals serving alongside interested non-medical community members, the Virginia Beach Medical Reserve Corps (VBMRC) shares skills, expertise, and time to support public health initiatives and respond to health emergencies throughout Virginia Beach. Established in 2002, the VBMRC is organized locally through the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health to improve the health and safety of its community. More than doubling in size during the pandemic to support COVID-19 efforts for the city, the VBMRC unit of 1,817 general support and healthcare professional volunteers is an essential component of emergency efforts for the city of...
