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Eight young adults arrived in Rutherford County a few days after the January 16 snow event and soon began working to help with urgent housing needs such as roofing and building handicapped ramps for low income people here.
AmeriCorps NCCC, a full time service program for young adults ages 18-26, has its River 7 Field Team working with Rutherford Housing Partnership (RHP) through February 26.
Marisa Switzman of Maryland serves as the team's leader for River 7 NCCC Southern Region. The NCCC Southern Region's headquarters is in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
In addition to Switzman, other team members are Sarah Adams of Michigan, Ash Scheel of France, Drew Eifner of Ohio, Camille Marinier from California, Hannah Fast of Iowa, Kyle Pek of Florida and Abram Kelley also of Michigan.
"This opportunity to have these eight young adults through AmeriCorp is a great opportunity to accomplish needed housing issues for homeowners in our county," said RHP Board of Directors Chair Rev. Billy Honeycutt. "Tasks that await them are roofing, ramp building, painting and flooring," he said.
"Our Board of Directors is grateful that RHP qualified for this group to be in our county in the coming weeks and the difference they will make."
RHP's Executive Director Mel Ailiff said, "Having an AmeriCorps NCCC team to help complete projects in Rutherford County is a wonderful opportunity. These young folks come into communities across America with a service-minded focus and want to make a difference. To have this team come to Rutherford County is amazing. While they are here, they will make a tremendous impact by increasing the number of families we can help in the next few weeks."
Ailiff and RHP received a $7,000 grant in order to get the team here. To host a group, housing must be provided. The group is living in spaces at the RHP office.
"I've already applied for an AmeriCorps group for March but haven't heard yet," Ailiff said.
"These young people will help Rutherford Housing programs serve more families on our waiting list," Ailiff said.
Switzman explained AmeriCorps teams work 10 months together and undergo one month of training on the campus followed by four rounds of projects.
"My team arrived on campus in August and then began our first project in September so we have been together roughly six months and everyone will graduate the program mid-May," Switzman said.
"I hope that between now and May my team will be able to gain more skills as they continue to grow and learn throughout each project that we have completed. Specifically while working with RHP I think we all hope to pick up some more construction skills, learn more about roofing, and do our part to help the community combat the current housing crisis," Switzman said.
"So far I have been surprised by how much the team is able to accomplish when everyone works together as I am proud to say we were able to finish repairs on three homes in our last round in Nashville and worked hard prior to that constructing and repairing trails in Mammoth Cave Kentucky," she said.
On their first full week on the job, the team worked on two mobile home roofs, one in Henrietta and one outside of Rutherfordton.
The team had not had any roofing experience before getting on the roofs here but Honeycutt is providing hands-on training as he is also roofing with the group. Also being trained with the River 7 team is Chris Turner, RHP's new construction manager.
During the weeks the team is in Rutherford County, two or three volunteers from the RHP family and other members of the public are encouraged to join the team.
Anyone interested in helping the AmeriCorps group on housing projects is encouraged to volunteer. Call the RHP office at 828-248-3431 to sign up to volunteer or for more information.
The group is housed at the RHP office for their weeks here and anyone wishing to assist the team with dinner meals can also call the office at 828-248-3431.
