More than 250 AmeriCorps members from across the state will begin a year of volunteer service with an official swearing-in ceremony this week.
The event is an opportunity to welcome new AmeriCorps members in a pledge ceremony and to celebrate their year of service in West Virginia. As part of this event, Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service, is hosting a statewide swearing in ceremony at 2:00pm on Wednesday, October 11th at the State Capitol.
“Each year more than 1,100 individuals serve as AmeriCorps volunteers in West Virginia,” said Heather Foster, Executive Director of Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service. “AmeriCorps volunteers tackle our state’s toughest challenges and bring West Virginians together to strengthen our communities. We couldn’t be prouder of their commitment to our state.”
Since 1994, more than 12,000 West Virginia residents have served more than 18 million hours through AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps volunteers tutor and mentor children; provide children with nutritious meals through summer months; address the issues of homelessness and poverty within our veteran community; develop heritage sites and preserve historic towns; and recruit and manage volunteers.
The event will also feature a city-wide service project held in support of Day to Serve. Projects will include a city cleanup, smoke alarm canvasing, a RISE flood recovery project, and beautification of the Charleston Family Resource Center. Participants will meet at the Charleston Civic Center at 9:30AM.
For more information contact Dana Bryant 304-558-0111 or dana.a.bryant@wv.gov.