Let’s do big things

During the last State of the Union Address, the President reminded Americans that ‘we do big things.’ At the time, he was referring to the creativity and ingenuity that many feel to be synonymous with the American spirit. Now is the time for us to do big things and save the Corporation for National and Community Service.

As you know, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1 on Saturday, February 19, 2011. If this bill is signed into law, the legislation would make severe cuts in government spending for the rest of the fiscal year. Included in this bill is the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs, including Americorps. We cannot allow this to happen.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is the largest grant maker in support of service and volunteering. The organization was founded in 1993 when President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act. The program oversees Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, NCCC, Learn and Serve America, the Volunteer Generation Fund, and the Social Innovation Fund. The citizens involved in these various organizations are making a difference in the lives of Americans. They are serving and helping those of us have who have been made to feel invisible because of the ravages of poverty and inequity. If these programs end, a number of valuable and life-saving services will be lost.

If you can, imagine an America without the Corporation National and Community Service. A world without these services would mean that over 3 million at-risk children would not get instructional support from citizens serving through programs such as Teach for America, City Year, and Citizen Schools. It would also mean that more than 10,000 pre-school students served by Jumpstart tutors will not start school ready to read. Likewise, it would mean that more than 620,000 frail seniors and the disabled served by Senior Companions and RSVP will lose in-home support. In short, the elimination of these services would be a devastating loss to Americans who are already struggling to survive in a world that seems to turn a blind eye to their suffering.

We do big things.

If you want to make a difference in the lives of underserved children, the elderly, and the disabled, please log on to saveservice.org to make your voice heard. Let’s remind our elected officials by making the following appeal: “National service POSITIVELY impacts the lives of more than 250,000 people in this community each year. We meet needs. We foster self-sufficiency. We provide skills and training. We develop leaders. We make a difference. We change lives. We vote. What will you do?”

I don’t want to imagine a world without American service. I hope that you don’t either. Please take the time to stand up in support of service. Please visit saveservice.org.