This week we are celebrating #AmeriCorpsVISTAWeek and with this observance we shared a glimpse of the tireless work of some of our amazing VISTA Members. A few of them decided to also share what makes their work so meaningful. Read on to get more info about favorite projects and aspects of their work, as well as what they have learned so far during their service year:
- “The best part of my service year so far has been my two site visits in Phoenix. The first trip I really enjoyed being in the office and getting to know some of my coworkers in-person. I also enjoyed touring Nourish and the Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum on my own time. It was great to meet the two members of the AzFBN Agency Sustainability Program in-person as well. I had a great time during my second visit, specifically volunteering at Rodney’s farm at Spaces of Opportunity.” – Trinity Walsh, Agency Training Coordinator, VISTA at the Arizona Food Bank Network
- “The best part of my service year has been the unknown growth I have experienced. I sat here trying to figure out a singular thing that has made this year great. But from the independent research I am conducting, the work with Manzanita Outreach, and the educational opportunities to learn what it means to be a non-profit working in food insecurity, each and every single thing combined has not only made this year super impactful but a culmination of what it means to be in service. “ – Theo Berry, Digital Engagement Coordinator, Manzanita Outreach
- “Something new I have learned about my VISTA service has been the amount of people who need a food pantry and extra help is very necessary in the Grand Canyon. A lot of individuals who live and work there stress how helpful our pantry has been.” – Diana Rocha
- “Watching Home Depot come to the farm and completely transform it. Within four hours, the 200+ volunteers painted, planted, built, cleaned up, etc.” – Rachel Opio, Urban Farm Outreach Coordinator, VISTA
- “The best part of my job as Meal Program Designer is meeting unselfish people deeply committed to helping others. AzFBN/A New Leaf is a nonprofit organization I knew nothing about, but now I have a responsibility to do better than a respectable job; now I have a moral obligation to exceed my own expectations.” – Sam, Meal Program Designer, VISTA at A New Leaf
- “The thing that excites me most about my project is meeting people in my community who are from all sides of the spectrum around food insecurity. From interviewing and touring agency partners, like ICNA relief and Matthew’s Crossing, to attending food distributions to interviewing people receiving food assistance, I love the on-the-ground aspect of engaging in this work. I find comfort in meeting community leaders who are dedicated to helping their neighbors regardless of the situation they are in.” – Sarah Bathe, Storytelling & Marketing Coordinator, VISTA at United Food Bank
Thank you all for your dedicated work towards a hunger-free Arizona!
AmeriCorps VISTA is a federal program that matches national service volunteers to local agencies to strengthen and supplement efforts to eliminate and alleviate poverty. In 2017, AzFBN started a statewide AmeriCorps VISTA program focused on food security efforts. The goal of participating VISTA members hosted by AzFBN is to contribute to fighting hunger by performing activities such as bolstering sustainable local food systems, improving food pantries’ organizational capacity and sustainability, expanding community engagement, and increasing the amount of emergency food distributed. AmeriCorps VISTA members are caring, highly trained individuals who serve for one-year on a full-time basis, working to develop lasting solutions to problems facing low-income communities.
You can learn more about the Arizona Food Bank Network’s AmeriCorps VISTA program, here.
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