Help Save AmeriCorps!
Anisha Sinha
As I'm sure many of you have heard, the US Congress is considering a
bill that will cut all funding for the AmeriCorps program. The
implications of such a bill are immeasurable- LIFT and many of our
community partners that offer services to our clients rely upon
AmeriCorps funding to keep doing wonderful work across the United
States. Without AmeriCorps funding, thousands of young adults cannot
fill necessary jobs in the service realm, and consequently, we will be
limited the services and resources that many individuals are in great
need of. In Pennsylvania alone, more than 3,700 AmeriCorps positions
stand to be eliminated, in addition to the services provided by over
40,000 individuals in Pennsylvania that help fight poverty. As LIFT
volunteers, we are committed to fighting poverty for all individuals,
which makes the passage of this bill something quite close to our
mission and the work that we do.
We are encouraging all of our LIFTers network-wide to participate in
tomorrows Save Service for America District Day (www.saveservice.org),
and inform Senator Robert Casey of the devastating impacts such a bill
would have on our country, and to contact your Congress person by
phone or email to explain the importance of service. If you are unable
to participate in the event, we ask that you consider signing the Save
AmeriCorps Petition (http://www.change.org/petitions/save-americorps),
and inform your friends and colleagues about this bill.
We are also asking our LIFTers to show LIFT support by wearing their
LIFT shirts tomorrow- we have asked all LIFT volunteers from across
our national network to participate, and believe that showing
solidarity is a strong act in and of itself.
Thank you guys for all of the great work that you do!
Anisha and Jordan