Et cetera : From Vinton to Akron: Serving one community at a time!

By: Rachel and Sabrina, Maple 7

A team of ten AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) members are participating in an eight week project, from March 17 to May 12, 2011, with Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. (ASCA). For the first four weeks of the project; the team is assisting the Akron Summit Earned Income Tax Credit Program (EITC) with free tax preparation for low-income individuals. Team Maple 7 had a week of extensive training, and all Corps Members are certified in tax preparation. So far, the team has brought back about $274,356 to Summit County residents. 

Maple 7 Corps Member Cynthia Smith from Philadelphia is twenty-three years old and is “excited for our team to unite and break through our comfort zones together.” Cynthia joined AmeriCorps NCCC because she really wants to give back to local communities. She loves the idea of travelling around the country doing community service while meeting different people, which she feels will help her gain perspective on life and people’s backgrounds.

This project has allowed Cynthia to work towards her goal by challenging her to “not be afraid to ask questions and to avoid making assumptions about people.”

The remaining four weeks of our project will be under the Urban Agriculture Program at Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. Maple 7 is providing support and technical assistance to the low-income community of Summit Lake in Akron as they initiate urban agricultural related projects – specifically community gardens.

Maple 7 just started participating in Individual Service Projects (ISPs)-community service activities apart from our regular work with ASCA. The teams first ISP was at the Akron-Canton Food Bank where six Corps Members helped pack boxes of meat. Working with other food bank volunteers, Maple 7 helped packed 236 boxes with 7,080 pounds of meat to be sent out to regional food banks. Overall, Maple 7 is getting things done!