Michael D. Smith and Florida leaders joined FEMA Corps, NCCC and AmeriCorps disaster response teams in Fort Myers, Florida.
WASHINGTON, DC – AmeriCorps Executive Director Michael D. Smith visited Fort Myers, Florida, to meet with national service leaders, see the impact of national service programs supporting communities affected by Hurricane Ian, and hear to AmeriCorps members and alumni.
On Monday, January 23Smith joined a AmeriCorps NCCC team serving with spirits, a non-profit organization focused on guiding individuals and families who have experienced disruptions on the path from survival to prosperity. Smith visited the home of a US Navy veteran whose home is being vandalized and vandalized by AmeriCorps members after it was damaged during Hurricane Ian in September 2022. Smith also introduced the Pof the resident Vvolunteer Sservice Award Winning a Philip DeRitis.
Smith later met with fema corps teams that support hazard mitigation, individual assistance and other services for the Fort Myers community. FEMA Corps members discussed their direct support of FEMA and how that supports services for disaster survivors and disaster-affected communities.
The day ended in a Roundtable hosted by AmeriCorps with AmeriCorps members, senior AmeriCorps volunteers, and staff serving in Dr. Piper Center for Social Services Y PAS who discussed their early response contributions in the first days after Hurricane Ian.
On Tuesday, January 24, Smith started his day with AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams where he presented the of the president Vvolunteer Sservice Apavilion to Monica Lopez and gave comments on the value of hurricane recovery services. blacksmith and Harlem Heights Foundation Leadership visited a neighborhood where AmeriCorps staff and members have been supporting quest adventures Y rebuilding together with home repairs. A local property owner shared his experience of recovery and response to Hurricane Ian and discussed the challenges this underserved neighborhood faces in long-term recovery. Smith concluded his journey with the service where he helped AmeriCorps crews remove nails, scrape floors and cut drywall.
Each year, more than 9,200 Americans of all ages and backgrounds come together to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity at more than 1,300 locations across Florida. Last year, AmeriCorps invested more than $44.3 million in federal funds to support cost-effective community solutions, working hand-in-hand with local partners to empower people to help communities meet their toughest challenges.
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