April 2009

National Conference Service Project, Rhymthmic Roots Greenability Fair, ARNO Volunteer Day

In early April all of the full-time members headed to Pittsburgh for our annual Literacy AmeriCorps National Conference. This year we did something a bit different. On the second day of the conference, we headed out for a large service project. Despite the freezing cold and the snow our members helped clean up a park by removing trash and invasive plants, and rebuilding trails. For the second year in a row Corps members headed out to support the Rhythmic Roots Greenability Fair, which was held at Studio at Colton this year. The event had free music, food, and various informational booths for the community. One of the booths even had an NCCC group there! ARNO Volunteer Day, which was organized by Laura Klein, was a very successful event but mean something special to one member. ARNO (Animal Rescue of New Orleans) vaccinates, spays or neuters, and microchips every rescued animal. The members played with the animals, cleaned cages, and provided love. However, one member Kimberly Winkinson did not stop there. She fell in love with an orange tabby cat names Zack and took him home the following day! (Check out the March/April edition of AmeriWord for a special editorial by Zack!)