Starting Points hosts AmeriCorps Vista’s

July 5, 2012

For the second consecutive year, Kevin Close will be an AmeriCorps Summer Associate at the Morgan County Partnership.

A few goals of his this summer will include organizing a fundraiser to assist the Partnership’s ongoing mission, as well as collaborating with other community members to create a community-based anti-bullying group with youth.

In addition, Close will assist the Partnership in raising awareness about the 40 Developmental Assets, the dangers of alcohol and drugs and healthier alternatives.

“During my service, I will exert every amount of energy I have to educate and engage the youth of our county in an attempt to forge them in to well-rounded, responsible leaders,” said Close.

Chelsea Hessler will be serving as an AmeriCorps Summer Associate at the Morgan County Starting Points. This summer she will be assisting MCAFF and the local Farmer’s Market on getting an EBT system available for SNAP participants in Morgan County while also trying to bring more local farmers into the market.

Hessler will be at the Farmer’s Market to educate people on nutrition, proper food handling, how to stretch a budget when buying produce, and the EBT system. At Starting Points she will be taking part in the Backpack Program and reaching out to local growers to increase the donations of food to the Meal Time Community Kitchen at Starting Points.

Dakota Maravelis is the Vista Summer Associate stationed at the Morgan County Extension office. “My job as a Vista this summer is to recruit community members and volunteers to participate in extension programs that meet the mission of West Virginia’s five promises to youth,” said Maravelis.

Those five promises mentioned by Maravelis are: caring adults, safe places, healthy lifestyles, effective education, and opportunities for service. He plans to meet these promises through activities like a street cleanup, 4-H related events, and educational activities at the Morgan County Fair.

“In my first week on the job, I was given the task of working on the National 4-H Science Experiment for Morgan County. First I did the experiment myself and then I made a revised lesson plan so that I would be able to teach the county youth the activity. I think it will be engaging and enjoyable for 4-H members.”