AmeriCorps Week 2019 is March 10-16, and Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) would like to recognize its AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers.

Since 2016, DSNWK has recruited six full-time Americorps VISTAs to volunteer as program support, grant writers, and foodbank coordinators. In summer 2018, DSNWK recruited five Americorps VISTAs to support DSNWK, the Area Agency on Aging, and Learning Cross Preschool.

The main duties of VISTA, which stands for Volunteer in Service to America, is to provide sustainable support to nonprofits to help lift people out of poverty. VISTAs work full-time for a year and provided a stipend from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

On top of their regular volunteer duties, VISTAs with DSNWK held a banquet for first responders on 9/11, visited nursing homes on Veterans Day, and presented programs on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Kansas Day.

Currently, two Americorps VISTAs have made a year-long commitment to DSNWK.

Mathew Vickery, York, Penn., is an AmeriCorps VISTA with DSNWK’s foodbank and pursuing a B.S. in nursing at Fort Hays State University.

Thomas Fuhrmann, St. Louis, Mo., is retired and volunteering as an AmeriCorps VISTA for DSNWK’s College for Living program, which provides day services to adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

AmeriCorps VISTA positions to assist with grant writing, events, and software development with DSNWK are currently available.

Help DSNWK thank these volunteers during AmeriCorps Week.

Steve Keil
Director of Development
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas