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Helping people in need often requires citizens, young and old, rolling up their sleeves and pitching in. Throughout Maine, AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have been doing just that for many decades. Nearly 3,000 young and old serve at 300 nonprofit organizations throughout the state each year.
Earlier this year, all that was in jeopardy due to proposed severe budget cuts to those programs. Thanks to Sen. Susan Collins’ leadership, a bipartisan agreement was reached that will provide $1.25 billion for AmeriCorps nationwide.
I was proud to serve on the boards of two seniors programs: RSVP and Senior Companions housed at the University of Maine Center on Aging. During that time I worked closely with Collins’ staff and she was steadfast in her support and advocacy-even when it was not politically expedient.
This bipartisan agreement assures that nonprofits and local governments throughout Maine will be able to sustain and increase their services with the help of AmeriCorps members and senior volunteers.
Tess Scannell
Newport