ATHENS, Ohio (3.8.2012) -- Every day, AmeriCorps members make a difference in the lives of thousands of Athens County residents. Next week, AmeriCorps members are inviting community members in southeast Ohio and Ohio University to see first-hand exactly what AmeriCorps members do to make our communities better, healthier places.

During AmeriCorps Week, March 10 to 18, the two AmeriCorps programs in Athens County – one at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine called ComCorps and the other at Rural Action – want community members to work alongside AmeriCorps members to lend their time and talents to bettering our communities and to consider becoming an AmeriCorps member.

Also during AmeriCorps Week, community members are invited to learn about the local programs and how to serve during a AmeriCorps recruitment fair. The recruitment fair will be held Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ohio University Baker University Center room 230.

Participants shadowing ComCorps members may teach nutrition courses, provide health education presentations, conduct health clinics, or observe day-to-day roles with the organization. Contact Lauren Borovicka, ComCorps program coordinator, at 593.2293 or borovicka@oucom.ohiou.edu for information and to schedule.

Participants in Rural Action’s shadowing opportunities may:

• Conduct treatment system maintenance on Monday Creek from 9 a.m. to noon on March 12, 13 and 14. Call 394.2497 or email mcrp@mondaycreek.org for information.

• Attend an environmental education at Hocking College on March 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call or email Joe Brehm at 747-767-2255 or joe@ruralaction.org mailto:to schedule.

• Join a community forest clean up in Trimble on March 17 at 10 a.m. Contact Rose Keys, rose@ruralaction.org, or Joe Steinbrecher, joe.s@ruralaction.org to schedule.

• Participate in water monitoring training for Leading Creek on March 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. To schedule, email Lisa Prince at lisamprince@gmail.com
   

Call Candi Withem, AmeriCorps director at Rural Action, at 767.4938 or cswithem@yahoo.com for more information about Rural Action’s programs.

ComCorps, the AmeriCorps program at OU-HCOM, has partnered with Athens County schools and government and non-profit agencies to address unmet needs, said Borovicka.

“ComCorps is a vital community resource in Athens County,” Borovicka said. “The impact this program has on those we directly serve, the agencies and schools we serve with, the members who serve and the volunteers who serve along with us. This program truly helps so many children and families in Athens County. I feel so privileged to work alongside the talented members who dedicate eleven months to service and ‘Get Things Done’!”

Between 2000 and 2010, 151 ComCorps members have provided more than 225,000 hours of service in Athens County, delivering health screenings, health education and healthcare access.

At Rural Action, the AmeriCorps Ohio Stream Restore Corps has hosted 30 members since 2009 who have assisted with improving six watersheds throughout southeastern Ohio.

Focusing on environmental issues in watersheds, Withem states that AmeriCorps members perform the following:

• Water quality monitoring and data collection

• Classroom and after-school environmentally focused activities and teacher training workshops

• Community outreach activities, projects and events

• Volunteer recruitment, management and oversight

• Development of community education and volunteer opportunities such as cleanups, tree plantings, trail hikes, adopt-a-highway projects, stream sweeps

Withem reported that since the program’s inception, hundreds of miles of streams have been improved, thousands of children received outdoor education learning, and thousands of volunteers have conducted clean up campaigns at dozens of locations.