Merrimack Valley Community Service Corps (MVCSC) is excited to announce the arrival of a an NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) AmeriCorps Team that will be carrying out activities geared at responding to the COVID 19 health crisis in the community of Lawrence from August 20th through September 18th, 2020.
MVCSC is an innovative volunteer organization that sponsors two AmeriCorps Seniors programs, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) which have been active in the community of Greater Lawrence for over 40 years. This team is the only NCCC project in the nation that has been designated to work on COVID response activities for the 2020-2021 program years.
AmeriCorps NCCC members are young volunteers ages 18-24 that spend a year providing direct service to communities throughout the U.S. The team that arrived last month consists of 9 volunteers and 1 team leader (6 females and 4 males) and will be working primarily at the Lawrence Senior Center and Groundwork Lawrence Community Gardens.
The Corporation for National and Community Service sponsors the team and provides participants with transportation, a stipend or living allowance, and an end of service education award. The MVCSC thanks to a generous donation from the NiSource Foundation and Columbia Gas will be covering the housing costs of the team while in Lawrence.
While in Lawrence NCCC members have been working at the Lawrence Senior Center packaging and distributing food to families in need; coordinating volunteers and donation efforts and making phone reassurance calls to seniors in the community.
NCCC members have also been working with Groundwork Lawrence at the local community garden at the Costello Park. In the garden, NCCC is helping harvest food that is then donated to local food pantries, as well as other jobs around the property that will help to sustain the garden.
For more information regarding this program please contact Guy F. Kelley Jr. at 978-423-2771, guyterryk@aol.com, or Luisa Mejia at 978-985-2397 luisam1280@gmail.com.
