DEAR EDITOR:

March 8-14 is AmeriCorps Week. AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages more than 80,000 Americans in service at various nonprofit groups, schools, public agencies and community organizations around the country. AmeriCorps week is celebrated once each year to celebrate AmeriCorps and the members of AmeriCorps programs all over the country.

In 2019, in Ohio alone, there were 1,300 local service sites with 8,300 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members serving their communities. Since AmeriCorps started in 1994, AmeriCorps members have earned $123.8 million in scholarships.

AmeriCorps provides several professional development opportunities for AmeriCorps members and provides them guidance after their service. AmeriCorps has a wide variety of programs for anyone who wishes to serve to choose from.

Since 2017, I have served as a member of the Ohio Reading Corps for the Youngstown Mahoning Valley. I tutor students in reading for grades kindergarten through third grade. I have served in three different elementary schools. In each school, many of the students I have tutored grow in their reading skills and make great progress.

It’s a privilege to see the students I work with going from not understanding, to being excited about how much they’ve learned and grown. Seeing my students become eager to read with me brings me great joy.

In addition, I am very grateful for my fellow AmeriCorps members. I have met some wonderful people over the years in my service. I am very happy to be serving my community through AmeriCorps. Celebrating AmeriCorps Week is special because it’s a way of thanking those AmeriCorps members who serve our communities because they care.

Thank you to all of those who are or have served with AmeriCorps.

ABIGAIL PORTER

Salem