Trent, Blevins participate in County Day of Recognition for National Service

Morehead Mayor Jim Tom Trent and Rowan County Judge-Executive Walter Blevins joined more than 1,760 elected officials from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico stood together in support of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps and VISTA Programs.

Trent and Blevins participated in a national day of recognition Tuesday, April 4, to highlight the impact of national service in their cities and thank individuals who serve. Together, the elected officials represent more than 110 million citizens or one-third of all Americans.

County Day of Recognition for National Service is designed to spotlight the impact of national service and thank those who serve. Trent and Blevins signed proclamations declaring April 4 County Day of Recognition for National Service in Morehead and Rowan County.

The two heard from Kentucky AmeriCorps program directors and members, VISTA members, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer program director about the services they provide to the Morehead community.

These services include tutoring and mentoring in the schools, financial counseling for low income families, assistance with transitioning families of violence or homelessness to safe and affordable housing, case management to homeless families, volunteer assistance at local nonprofit agencies such as St. Claire Regional Medical Center and Christian Social Services and organizing the Build-A-Bed program, which provides beds to school age children that do not have a proper place to sleep in their homes.

 “Our 64 active retired and senior volunteers provided 7,961 hours of service to Rowan County which is equal to $57,718 dollars in saving at minimum wage,” said Teresa Judd, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program director.

“The AmeriCorps, VISTA and Senior Corps members serve our community every day to make it stronger, safer, and provide services to the most vulnerable citizens in our community. These services would not be possible through existing staff due to funding and budget cuts in schools and the non-profit sector. We want our community to know how hard these members work to make a difference,” said Mary Claire Williams, MSUCorps project director.   

On April 9, 2013, the first-ever Day of Recognition for National Service united mayors across the country to spotlight the impact of national service and honor those who serve. Altogether, 832 mayors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico officially recognized the work that AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers are doing to make cities better and stronger.

Additional information is available by contacting Williams at 606-783-2719 or by visiting www.moreheadstate.edu/msucorps.

Pictured above in the front row, from left, are: Mary Claire Williams, MSUCorps project director; Dr. Dan Connell, assistant vice president for adult education and college access; Morehead Mayor Jim Tom Trent, Judge Executive Walter Blevins, Rosita Napoleoni-Milan, member coordinator; and Justin Slone, disaster relief case manager.
Back row from left: Alaina Willis, Economic Empowerment Corps Member serving at DOVES; Kelli Petronella, DOVES executive director; Madison Newton, Homes for All Member serving at Frontier Housing; Michael Justice, Homes for All Member serving at Frontier Housing; Nate Merritt, Kentucky College Coach member serving at MSU's 21st Century Education Enterprise; Ashley Tackett, Homes for All Member serving at Frontier Housing; Marilyn Smith, executive director Gateway House; Andrew Kuchenbord, Homes for All Member serving at Frontier Housing; and Vicky Cooper, administrative assistant to the Adult Education and College Access Programs.