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(AmeriCorps River 2 team • Photo submitted) AmeriCorps teammember Avery Scully throws wood to a pile at Hintons wood lot. The team worked on the wood lot most Wednesdays with the woodchuckers volunteer woodcutters.
That small squad of young people you may have seen around Clay County — the ones wearing matching polo shirts with a distinctive logo, often with cargo pants and combat boots — are members of AmeriCorps. Team members are dressed for hard work because they have been working diligently from the time they arrived at Hinton Center on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The hard-working young people have helped at Castoff Pet Rescue in Blairsville and Warriors Veteran Outreach in Murphy. They have spent Wednesdays working at Hinton’s firewood lot and they have made trails. Literally. Team leader Lauren Clapp said that is how a lot of their time has been spent. “We have actually been making a new trail for The Still Place,” she explained.
Part of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Southern Region, the four-member local team, known as River 2, is the smallest team in the region. There are four regions in the country. Typical team sizes range from eight to 12 people with team members from 18 to 24 years old who serve ten months of service, usually spending a few months at different locations. Team leaders can be older than 24.
Hannah Van Wijmeren, the group’s communications director, said some teams do not remain with the same teammates for their 10 months of service, but Team River 2 is staying together. She said it makes it easier because you already know each other and how you work together. Prior to Clay County, they worked in Massachusetts on harvesting programs, as well as trail work, and they assisted with Habitat for Humanity in Delaware.
On their weekends off, the group has been able to do some sight-seeing. One recent weekend, the group hiked five miles to the top of Brasstown Bald. “That was a lot of fun,” Van Wijmeren said.
Their Hinton assignment ends Dec. 17 and they will all head home to spend the holidays with their families. Then the group will return to their Vicksburg, Miss., headquarters for a few days before being sent to their next assignment. During the Monday, Dec. 9 interview, that assignment was confirmed. They will be traveling to Mobile, Ala., to assist with tax preparation.
AmeriCorps is celebrating 25 years and this group of young people feels it has made a difference in their lives. All team members in the region will come together for a graduation in May. Some people choose to apply for AmeriCorps again, while others go on to whatever life holds. Both Clapp and Van Wijmeren believe AmeriCorps helps people make some of those decisions.
Two of the young women decided to sign up right after high school, while the only male in the group had a few years of college behind him. Clapp had graduated from four years of college when she applied to be a team leader. “My plan was always to go to grad school to become a museum curator,” she smiled. “My advisor worked with me to do this. Now, I want to work for a nonprofit helping with food insecurity. I have also realized I really miss being away from my family for so long.” Her family is in Iowa, while the other team members hail from New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Van Wijmeren said she was not sure what she wanted to do after high school until she heard about AmeriCorps. Her family has moved from Virginia to Maryville, Tenn., so she will attend community college near there after her term.
Van Wijmeren said she recommends AmeriCorps. “Especially for people who are determined to help other communities,” she said.
AmeriCorps began in 1994 and is sometimes referred to as the “domestic Peace Corps” because it focusses on service opportunities for Americans to contribute to their country. Local sponsors request an AmeriCorps team, then provide housing for the team. Hinton Center was the local sponsor and hopes to host AmeriCorps teams every fall.
Team members are provided a stipend, as well as the free housing and meals. In addition, they receive extensive training prior to starting their assignments. Training includes practical skills, using a chainsaw, driving a 15-passenger van, team dynamics, conflict resolution, diversity and much more.
Visit: www.Nationalservice.gov.