Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20 Corps Member Spotlight: Koal Melville

By: Sarah Williams

Koal Melville, from Winter Park, Florida is serving on team Cedar 6 in AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20. She arrived in Vinton on February 11 to start her 10-month service term. Cedar 6 is made up of nine people from across the country who will serve together around the Midwest.

When asked why Koal joined AmeriCorps NCCC she says, “I thought it would be a great adventure.”

Before Koal joined the NCCC program she was working as a Walmart overnight stocker.

Cedar 6’s first round project is at Cultivate Hope, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Cedar 6 is assisting agencies in the Cedar Rapids area, who are fighting food insecurity for Iowa’s citizens. They are working with Cultivate Hope (Matthew 25’s Urban Farm), Feed Iowa First, and HACAP. Through Cultivate Hope and Feed Iowa First, the team is preparing urban farms and gardens for growing produce. Tasks include: preparing the soil, planting and weeding. Through HACAP, the team is partnering with the Food Reservoir to process donations. On inclement weather days, the team is serving with Matthew 25 and HACAP’s housing programs to repair homes.

Some fun facts about Koal:

Q: What is your favorite TV show? The Walking Dead

Q: What song best describes you? “Cake” The Distance

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up? A super Hero

Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be? Teleportation

Q: What is the most challenging and/or exciting thing you have done? Trying to find myself.

Q: If you could come back as animal which one would it be? Lion

Q: What is your favorite book? “The Mob”