Throughout the years, AmeriCorps volunteers have dedicated their time, talent, and muscle to the NJ Tree Foundation. From planting trees to marking sidewalks to surveying trees with iTree software, AmeriCorps has been a major artery in the heart of our community-based work. In Camden, this is especially true for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). And for those of you who remember our dear past-employee, Elise Schadler — she came to NJTF as an alumn to AmeriCorps NCCC. Shannon Buckley-Schaff, Project Coordinator for NJTF in Newark, used to be an AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador.
URGE THEM TO VOTE NO on a continuing resolution that eliminates funding for the corporation for national and community service, including AmeriCorps!
Talking points:
* I am calling to urge you to vote NO on any proposal to eliminate funding for AmeriCorps or the Corporation for National and Community Service.
* Eliminating funding will decimate vital services in our communities when millions of Americans need food, shelter, healthcare, job training and educational support.
* Communities are counting on AmeriCorps members, national service participants and community volunteers to meet the increased demand for services.
* Eliminating funding will only push unemployment rates up. Unemployment numbers — particularly for young people, veterans and military spouses, older Americans and people of color-remain alarmingly high.
* For Americans who are struggling to find work, national service programs offer participants the opportunity to earn a subsistence-level stipend, develop skills, and create pathways to future employment. Eliminating programs like AmeriCorps will result in jobs lost for the corps members and the staff who supervise them. Example: If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, our 140 AmeriCorps members and the staff that supervise them will be out of work.
* The federal investment made in faith based and community organizations through the Corporation for National and Community Service leverages $799 million in matching funds from companies, foundations and other sources. If you defund the national service programs, whole organizations will shut down and most will not be able to reopen again even if funding is restored.
THANK YOU!
