Americorps disaster response workers are laboring hard to save the flood ravaged town of Clarksville, Missouri. An Americorps team led by Katie Rooney and Kyle Henning has been coordinating volunteer and community liaison efforts out of the City Hall of the small Mississippi River community, population 490.
“I think they are awesome,” Clarksville Alderman Mike Russell, who doubles as the town’s emergency services manager, told MSNBC. “I can literally tell you that if it was not for them running the City Hall end, we would be much worse off.”
Americorps is a Federal National Service program created by President Clinton in 1993. Members specialize in a wide array of domestic issues ranging from environmental programs to literacy initiatives. The Clarksville team was part of a disaster response unit based out of St. Louis, Missouri who had just finished assisting tornado victims in the Southwest portion of the state when they were called to help out with the disastrous Mississippi flooding in Clarksville. Americorps members receive healthcare, a few hundred dollars a month, a modest educational grant and numerous ready to eat meals for their invaluable service to pressing issues confronting the country.
You can takepart by learning more about a form of national service that doesn’t involve the military by checking out Americorps‘ website.
LINKS:
Gary Post Tribune: Volunteer team paid tribute at City Hall
CATEGORIES: Education, Environment
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- Worldchanging
It was evident as the young men and women of AmeriCorps St. Louis began walking through
the doors of Clarksville City Hall, that they brought hope with them. Calmly, confidently,
graciously they set about the tasks they understood to be necessary and important. They
spoke with authority and gently took our hands and walked us through an extremely difficult
event, never wavering in their intent to complete their assignment.
As days passed, the efforts became more than an assignment. Working together with Clarksville, this team became part of our family. They laughed with us, cried with us and rejoiced with us as each successful step was accomplished. These bright and proficient young people gave so much more than physical labor.
The organizational skills were evident from the sandbag wall effort to the communication
center; from running meetings to delegating authority; from choosing the direction to
bringing a halt to negative situations. Decisions were made quickly with care and thoughtful consideration and always providing adequate information to the Mayor or others in positions
of authority. The competency level of this team is extraordinary. Each member brought his
or her expertise to the table and shared it with everyone connected to his or her part of the effort.
During such a time as this flood emergency, emotions are high, people become exhausted,
fear creeps into the picture, and thoughts are easily scrambled. The AmeriCorps team
recognized and understood the frenzy, met the need to bring stability to the situation and
assisted in clearing the way to move us forward
Praise and admiration are due each individual member. Blue ribbons and gold stars could
never do justice to the contribution made by AmeriCorps St. Louis to Clarksville, MO.
Sincerely,
Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor