5/17/2011 - Jackson, Miss.

Members of America Reads-Mississippi (ARM) will join other AmeriCorps programs in celebrating the fifth annual AmeriCorps Week, which is being observed May 14-21, 2011. This gives AmeriCorps members the perfect opportunity to showcase the outstanding services they have provided throughout the year and to encourage others to volunteer. Nearly 706,000 AmeriCorps members nationwide have committed more than 860 million hours to addressing real problems in communities. Projects have stemmed from health fairs to responding to disasters.

During this week, ARM members will display a reflection of their services at various locations and educate the community on the AmeriCorps program. In addition, members have planned several other local service projects.

A few examples of ARM projects include:

• Jackson State University ARM members will assist with building a Habitat for Humanity house for a family in the Jackson area and host additional projects throughout the week.
• Quitman County ARM members hosted several activities and will recruit volunteers to assist with the flood clean up in Lambert, Miss.
• South Pontotoc members will educate the community on diabetes awareness.
• ARM members at Seminary Elementary School and Seminary Middle School in the Covington County School District will host a talent show. Canned foods will be solicited from students and parents as admission to enter the talent show. All donated items will be given to The House of Hope in Seminary, Miss., to benefit the community.

ARM has 350 full-time AmeriCorps members who serve at the 82 school sites. ARM is made possible through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and operates regionally through a partnership with six of Mississippi’s public universities.

ARM oversight at the state level is a joint effort through the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service and the State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). For more information, including a list of the 82 school sites, about America Reads Mississippi visit www.americareadsms.org.

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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