How a team of AmeriCorps service workers spent a month in Columbia supporting 2 local nonprofits

Kenyon Wilson and Hanna Schechter hold a piece of vinyl siding steady while Dylan Aponte draws a cut line to go around a window at a Habitat for Humanity home under construction in the organization's Boone Prairie Subdivision in the 3900 block of Brown Station Road. They are AmeriCorps service workers in Columbia through Dec. 18 aiding Habitat for Humanity and Central Pantry of the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri.

A group of nine young adults took the latter part of the word Thanksgiving to heart in Columbia this month, participating in an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps program.

The group is aiding the operations of the Show Me Central Habitat for Humanity, constructing homes in the Boone Prairie Subdivision off of Brown Station Road and at its ReStore on Business Loop 70 East, along with shifts at Central Pantry of the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri through Dec. 18. They started their work Nov. 6.

The Thanksgiving holiday didn't stop the service project either. Team members helped serve meals at the Columbia Senior Center for the Almeta Crayton's Community Programs Everybody Eats Thanksgiving meal. They then had their own Thanksgiving from the residence at which they are staying during their time in Columbia.

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Central Pantry was needing additional help to meet its daily service goals along with preparations for the move to the business loop, said Kayla Misera, pantry director in a news release from AmeriCorps.

"We just simply don't have the paid staff manpower to achieve that. So, we lean heavily on volunteers/volunteerism to help us complete our mission to expand access for food to those experiencing food insecurity," she said.

Rowan Perry, an AmeriCorps service worker, sorts items to stock Wednesday at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 1305 Business Loop 70 E as part of a National Civilian Community Corps project in Columbia.
Rowan Perry, an AmeriCorps service worker, sorts items to stock Wednesday at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 1305 Business Loop 70 E as part of a National Civilian Community Corps project in Columbia.

When not working onsite at either location, team members have independent service projects as well, said Jessica Mysliwski, NCCC team media representative.

"This past weekend we were helping with (Community Garden Coalition). Just trying to get the old ones ready to be revitalized in the spring," she said.

The roughly six-week project in Columbia is not all the NCCC team will do. It is a 10-month commitment as they travel to other communities in six-to-eight-week chunks. Columbia was the first stop after a three-week training in Denver.

This isn't the first time an NCCC team has worked in Columbia, though, Mysliwski said. It is a first visit for the specific group she is a part of, however. Teams also have worked with the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture.

Current team members come from all regions, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and New York. They are classified as service workers and so receive a stipend through AmeriCorps for their work.

Team members' reasons for joining AmeriCorps were to find ways to help, learn new skills and even explore service-minded career options. Downtime has allowed them to explore Columbia and even attend a University of Missouri football game.

"That is the unique thing about AmeriCorps. It brings you to these communities that you may or may not have thought about traveling to before, and so it kind of opens up your perspective," Mysliwski said.

She has been impressed by how interconnected service organizations are in Columbia. When working with the Community Garden Coalition, team members mentioned wanting to find opportunities to do recruitment drives at local schools for AmeriCorps. A coalition member was able to make that connection, Mysliwski said.

'A heart of service'

Columbia Habitat Director of Community Outreach Ashely Switzer is very familiar with the work of AmeriCorps. She was an AmeriCorps Vista with Habitat for Humanity following her college graduation. This eventually would lead to her career with the organization, following stints at other nonprofits, including a career with AmeriCorps.

She is excited to have the NCCC team in Columbia.

"I knew these young folks with a heart of service could come in and really help us get a lot of weekday volunteering and building done while most folks have to go to work and school during the week," Switzer said.

Leah Rezac and Charlie Saunders work to move cabinetry Wednesday in an aisle at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They are part of an AmeriCorps service worker team in Columbia through Dec. 18 as part of a National Civilian Community Corps project.
Leah Rezac and Charlie Saunders work to move cabinetry Wednesday in an aisle at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They are part of an AmeriCorps service worker team in Columbia through Dec. 18 as part of a National Civilian Community Corps project.

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The Columbia Habitat also is readying for the annual CoMoGives campaign, where donations will go to support the construction of a residence in the Boone Prairie subdivision. Columbia will serve as the National Habitat for Humanity's Home Builders Blitz next year, Switzer said.

"The organization is going to come to Columbia and help our local volunteers build four houses in 10 days," she said. "Our CoMoGives campaign is kind of a precursor to that."

When team members are working at the ReStore they are helping keep it organized, such as stocking lumber along walls and any home goods and appliances people may need for their residence. The ReStore has a variety of construction materials, including still-in-good-condition bathroom sinks and vanities, cabinets and more. One customer this week was looking for cabinetry while working on a home remodel.

"The ReStore is a fantastic example of sustainability," Switzer said. "Folks are donating very usable items that would have landed in a landfill. We're giving an affordable option to our community to buy building materials and things they need to maintain their home."

Kenyon Wilson, an AmeriCorps service worker, installs a piece of vinyl siding cut by Cassie Whittemore, not pictured, to fit around a window on a Habitat for Humanity home in the Boone Prairie Subdivision off of Brown Station Road. He is part of a National Civilian Community Corps project operating in Columbia through Dec. 18.
Kenyon Wilson, an AmeriCorps service worker, installs a piece of vinyl siding cut by Cassie Whittemore, not pictured, to fit around a window on a Habitat for Humanity home in the Boone Prairie Subdivision off of Brown Station Road. He is part of a National Civilian Community Corps project operating in Columbia through Dec. 18.

Team members rotate between Central Pantry, the ReStore and Boone Prairie construction site.

"Week to week, we switch who is on food pantry and who is home construction duty," Mysliwski said. "We are all learning new skills. We get to meet a very diverse group of people at the two different projects.

"I have gained people skills working at the pantry. That has been a good experience. At the construction site, I have had no experience building things, so I have learned a lot — installing flooring, doors, sink vanities. It's been pretty cool. You just kind of have to pick it up quickly."

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: AmeriCorps service project tour gets its start in Columbia