A team of AmeriCorps members is helping build ramps for elderly and/or disabled individuals in Las Cruces, AmeriCorps said in a news release. The group of nine young adults arrived Nov. 6 and will continue the project through Dec. 17.
The team, part of AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program, is supporting the New Mexico Ramp Project, the news release said. Tasks include surveying clients, making ramp designs and building the ramps for a minimum of 12 clients in Doña Ana County. This is the first AmeriCorps NCCC team to serve with the New Mexico Ramp Project (NMRP).
“Recipients benefit from knowing that their community [cares for them], while volunteers gain from having the sense of purpose that comes from helping others,” said NMRP Executive Director Greg Hallstrom.
NMRP is a nonprofit that provides free ramps for older adults and people with mobility issues across the state who are identified by local healthcare providers and organizations knowing the financial and medical condition of the individual, AmeriCorps said. NMRP has built 136 ramps for residents in need. The local AmeriCorps team began service Oct. 11 with three weeks of training in Denver. After Dec. 17, they will travel to other six- to 12-week projects in communities throughout the central and southwestern United States. They will graduate from the program July 20, 2023.
AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, AmeriCorps program in which about 1,700 young adults serve nationwide annually. During their 10-month term, corps members, ages 18-26, work on eight-12 member teams on projects that address critical needs, AmeriCorps said. Traditional NCCC members travel to a variety of different six- to 12-week-long projects in a variety of service areas.
In exchange for their service, corps members receive $6,895 to help pay for college or to pay back student loans, a small living stipend, room and board, travel and leadership development.
For more information, contact AmeriCorps NCCC Southwest Region Community Relations Specialist Heather Dirck at HDirck@cns.gov.
Visit AmeriCorps.gov.
