Building Future Family Foundations

The press release I wrote for Round 3...

Building Future Family Foundations

Portland, Ore. - An AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team served with Habitat for Humanity for the 14th year in a row in Portland.  

During their time served with Habitat for Humanity Portland / Metro East, the team helped finish landscaping projects on finished homes, attended dedication ceremonies, and constructed the foundations of 10 brand new houses.  Corps Members laid sod, planted trees and shrubs, construct foundations, and were given the opportunity to act as site supervisors to improve their leadership skills. They were able to attend a dedication ceremony and served as greeters at the 2012 Hopebuild fundraising event at the Portland Convention Center.

About the ceremony, Corps Member Jenna Haley says, "Seeing the tears in the eyes of the family when they opened the fully stocked kitchen cabinets gave me the motivation to quickly and efficiently help to do my part in finishing the yard’s landscaping of their home."

Founded in 1981, Habitat for Humanity Portland / Metro East serves Multnomah County and northern Clackamas County and has the ability to reach out to families one step away from homelessness to provide simple, decent and affordable homes. The organization has served low-income, hardworking families in Portland / Metro East area for over 30 years and has served over 200 families. Low cost homes are built with volunteer service and donated building materials, then sold at 0% interest mortgage at 1% down payment.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, national service program in which 1,200 young adults serve nationwide each year.   During their 10-month term, Corps Members – all 18 to 24 years old – work on teams of eight to 12 on projects that address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, and urban and rural development. Members work on a series of different projects, typically lasting six to eight weeks each, to mentor students, construct and rehabilitate low-income housing, respond to natural disasters, clean up streams, help communities develop emergency plans, and address countless other local needs. The Pacific Region campus in Sacramento is one of five regional hubs in the United States and serves ten states in the western part of the country, as well as territories of Guam and American Samoa.   The other campuses are located in Denver, Colo.; Vicksburg, Miss.; Perry Point, Md; and Vinton, Iowa.

In exchange for their service, Corps Members receive $5,550 to help pay for college, or to pay back existing student loans.   Other benefits include a small living stipend, room and board, leadership development, increased self-confidence, and the knowledge that, through active citizenship, people can indeed make a difference.   AmeriCorps NCCC is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.   The Corporation improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. For more information about AmeriCorps NCCC, visit the website!.