VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery project seeks volunteers
June 20, 2008
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Flooding in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor has left tens of thousands of people homeless and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to homes.
Much flood recovery work needs to be done, and Volunteers in Service to America is seeking people who can work for the VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery project. The VISTA project offers an opportunity to help with flood relief while earning a monthly living allowance and an educational benefit.
Information sessions will be held 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday and Monday, June 20 and 23, in Ballantyne Auditorium, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids. VISTA applications will be available.
Preference will be given to volunteers able to start by June 30. Volunteers will be asked to make an 8-10 week commitment that must be completed by Sept. 12.
If you are unable to attend an information session, contact Julie Rochford, Community Corrections Improvement Association, telephone (319) 730-1118.
For the Corridor Flood Recovery project 230 positions are available: 200 full-time VISTA summer associates, 30 full-time one-year AmeriCorps VISTA, and three supervisors. All positions are for adults 18 and older. College students, people displaced by flood damage and retirees are encouraged to apply.
Summer VISTA associates will be paid a monthly living allowance. Students who work the full 8-10 week commitment will receive $1,000 for college tuition or college loans.
Summer associates and yearlong VISTA volunteers will also staff the United Way 2-1-1 call center; coordinate collection and distribution of donations; assist with connecting people with food resources; and help at resource centers.
The 30 full-time one-year positions and three supervisors will coordinate flood-relief efforts, identify the changing needs of the community, expand of neighborhood resource centers, develop partnerships, build coalitions and secure resources. The project seeks people with experience in housing, human services, human resources, logistics and event planning. A special need is people who hold a commercial drivers license with passenger endorsement and people experienced in first aid training.