| Jenny's AmeriCorps/Nonprofit Blog |
| Wednesday, May 19, 2004 I get a happy job today! I called the three selected families--not to tell them that they've "won"--but to set up a "final interview" which will really be a visit from the Habitat Surprise Patrol. That's so cool. I'm so excited! Three new families. Wicked cool. The rest of the day is just odds and ends. I do have one big project: I want to plan a short-term project (maybe one or two days) to fix up the backyard at the Frances Perkins shelter: fix the hole in the fences, maybe put in a sandbox and more playscape equipment--it would be so great to have swings! There's a church group interested who is wiling to help get the materials. Very exciting. But I need to talk with the head of the shelter. They don't own the property, and I need to find out if they're allowed to make such improvements. I don't see why not! I hope it all works out. It would be so exciting. Also exciting: we're finally going to get the Worcester Habitat webpage updated. Thank goodness. It needed some work, definitly. Joy, joy, joy. OK, I'm hungry, I didn't have time to pack a lunch today, and I literally have $5 to my name. Time to scrounge for food. |
| Here it is: the continuing saga of my experience as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer in Worcester, Massachusetts. I would love to hear from any other AmeriCorps volunteers or nonprofit employees--especially volunteer coordinators. Email me--tell me what you think, or share your own experiences. Together we'll survive this crazy world of NGOs! |
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| Thursday, May 20, 2004 Tim--my co-worker--insists on listening to Rush Limbaugh every day, because (and I quote) "You need to know what the enemy is saying." He informs me that Rush made some derogetory remarks about the AmeriCorps program. Well, I sent him an email. Below I have reproduced it for you. Dear Rush, I admit from the start that I did not hear your comments about the AmeriCorps program, but from my co-worker who listens to your show because, and I quote, "You have to know what the enemy is saying." I could not let your comments about the AmeriCorps program go without a few comments of my own. First of all, although President Clinton may have signed the AmeriCorps legislation, President Bush Sr. is the one who started putting it all together. And the AmeriCorps VISTA Program (Volunteers In Service To America) began 35 years ago, signed in to being by President Johnson who was following the plans of President Kennedy. Being an AmeriCorps volunteer is what I can do for my country. I am not paid to volunteer. This is not a job. I receive a small stipend ($10,000 for the year—which is less than the federal minimum wage of $5.15/hour) that I manage to survive on with help from my parents and by living in a neighborhood which has one of the worst reputations in the city of Worcester, MA (a grossly exaggerated reputation, in my opinion). In return, I put in over 40 hours of service a week with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, and I do this gladly. I am not complaining that I do not receive more. That is not the point of why I do this. In fact, this is my second year of service, and participating in this program has changed my life. I plan to remain in the not-for-profit field even after leave AmeriCorps. The fact of the matter is the government relies on a plethora of private nonprofit organizations to provide a wide range of social services from tutoring to healthcare to affordable housing. It is much more cost-effective for the government to help these organizations by providing them with stipend-supported volunteers than to have the government agencies run these programs themselves. America has a wonderful tradition of volunteerism and community service unparalleled by any other country. These acts of good will help foster a sense of community in neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. When there are families living in a two bedroom apartment, with only one bedroom inhabitable because the other is mold-infested, and the lights don’t work, and the ceiling leaks, and there is no heat, and the landlord doesn’t care because he lives in a whole other state—and these families are paying 50% of their income to live in such a place—how can I, how can anyone, not feel compelled to do something? I recently met with a group of middle school students whose project for the semester is to get two low-income families into a duplex their building. These children are 12 years old. That’s amazing. But what AmeriCorps volunteers do with thousands of organizations is no less amazing. Many people volunteer a few hours a week or month, but to keep an organization sustainable takes lots of time, and it takes money to staff a nonprofit full-time. Do you know how hard it is to find foundations, businesses, etc willing to fund general operating costs? Even AmeriCorps aren’t free. Sponsoring organizations in most programs must provide one-third of the program operating costs and 15 percent of the member living allowance. Approximately 50,000 AmeriCorps serve their country each year, allowing millions of people to access affordable healthcare, childcare, mentoring, housing, etc. AmeriCorps serves its country proudly, just like the military. Both serve a necessary purpose. And both deserve respect. Sincerely, Jennifer J. Hibbard AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer |
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