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WORLAND - Tuesday marked a Day of Recognition for National Service and the City of Worland joined more than 4,000 city, county, and tribal leaders across the country recognizing the impact of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps on addressing the most challenging needs of their communities, according to a press release from ServeWyoming, the governor's commission on national and community service.

Several SeniorCorps and AmeriCorps volunteers were in attendance at Tuesday's council meeting for the proclamation and to discuss their programs.

Two foster grandparents were in attendance Tuesday - Betty King, who serves at Head Start; and Geneva Gilmore, who serves at South Side.

In an interview Thursday, King said she has been a foster grandparent for seven years, one year at East Side and the past six at Head Start. She said she enjoys being a foster grandparent because of all the hugs and kisses she gets from her "foster grandchildren."

She said she became interested in the program because her mother had been a foster grandparent. When King started, you had to be 65, but the age of volunteering for the program has changed to 55 now.

Deborah Anderson is an AmeriCorps volunteer at the Worland Crisis Prevention and Response Center. As part of her service, and in partnership with the Allstate Foundation, she provides free financial education classes for qualified low-income individuals.

According to Serve Wyoming, another organization with AmeriCorps or Senior Corps volunteers are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Wyoming. Jennifer Wetherbee said she has openings available for additional AmeriCorps volunteers.

Misty Levya of Head Start said at Tuesday's council meeting, they have a foster grandparent in nearly every northern Wyoming Head Start center. "We just couldn't survive without them. When you're on a government grant, you know, you pinch pennies. We just don't have the funding to hire extra personnel and those extra hands just make the difference."

Leyva added, "It's just amazing there are people in the world who go out and just give, and give of themselves freely like that with nothing in return. They do need recognition.

PROCLAMATION

Worland Mayor Jim Gill signed a proclamation Tuesday night for the Day of Recognition for National Service. In part, the proclamation reads, "Whereas, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps participants address the most pressing challenges facing our communities, from educating students for the jobs of the 21st century and supporting veterans and military families to providing health services and helping communities recover from natural disasters; and whereas, national service expands economic opportunity by creating more sustainable, resilient communities and providing education, career skills and leadership abilities for those who serve ... be it resolved that Jim Gill, mayor of Worland, do hereby proclaim April 4, as National Service Recognition Day, and encourage residents to recognize the positive impact of national service in our country; to thank those who serve; and to find ways to give back to their communities.

AMERICORPS, SENIORCORPS

AmeriCorps is comprised of three programs: AmeriCorps State, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). State places members with organizations throughout Wyoming that provide services that focus on education, environmental stewardship, veterans and disaster response and VISTA focuses on anti-poverty outcomes, capacity building and creating sustainable solutions and NCCC develops leaders through direct, team-based national and community service projects, according to Serve Wyoming.

Senior Corps connects volunteers 55 and older with organizations including the Foster Grandparent Program that engages volunteers to serve as role models, mentors, tutors and supporters for youth.

SERVEWYOMING

According to ServeWyoming, the nation's counties, cities and tribes are increasingly turning to national service and volunteerism as a cost-effective strategy to address challenges at a time of fiscal constraint. Nearly 1,200 people of all ages and backgrounds are helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through AmeriCorps and Senior Corps in Wyoming. Serving at more than 206 locations throughout the state, these citizens tutor and mentor children, support veterans and military families, provide health services, restore the environment, respond to disasters, increase economic opportunity, and recruit and manage volunteers.

ServeWyoming is the Governor's Commission on National and Community Service.  The mission is to improve lives and strengthen Wyoming communities. ServeWyoming also serves as a statewide Volunteer Center known as Volunteer Wyoming.