Bringhurst man involved in nationwide service projects

Helping rebuild lives John Collins, pictured, helped build homes for victims of hurricanes during a 10-month commitment to AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. Photo provided John Collins of Bringhurst recently graduated from AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (Ameri- Corps NCCC) Pacific Region, wrapping up ten months and more than 1700 hours of community service nationwide.

This ceremony marked the 15th graduating class since the inception of AmeriCorps NCCC.

Collins was one of 296 graduates honored. During their term of service, Corps members worked in teams of 10-12 and were deployed throughout the U.S., including California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The Pacific Region's 28 teams provided much needed support and countless hours to the residents of Texas and the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike, through work with FEMA, the American Red Cross and other grassroots organizations.

Collins is a 2008 graduate of Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School. He applied for and was accepted into AmeriCorps and took six weeks of "basic training" in California, beginning in October 2008. After his training, he was sent to several different locations including Galveston, Texas, Bay St. Louis, Miss., and Portland, Ore., to help with construction of homes for victims of hurricanes. Some of his other duties included tutoring underprivileged students at an elementary school in an area just south of San Diego, Calif.

Collins is the son of Scot and Sharon Collins of Bringhurst. He arrived back home on July 23 for a short time with his family, and will leave again Aug. 25. He has accepted a new position as a construction supervisor for a partnership between AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity, to build homes for hurricane victims in Punta Gorda, Fla.

AmeriCorps NCCC community service projects target five focus areas: education, public safety, unmet human needs, homeland security, and the environment.

This year's 155 projects included such things as: providing logistical and event support for the Special Olympics World Games in Boise, Idaho; tutoring and mentoring high school students in California; building homes with several Habitat for Humanity chapters; serving as camp counselors at Camp WOW in Salt Lake City, Utah; and invasive species removal on Catalina Island. Many service hours were dedicated to the Pacific Region's home community of Sacramento, serving local schools, food banks, and parks and bike trails.

Through these projects, Corps members have completed over 300,000 hours of community service in the past ten months.

AmeriCorps NCCC encourages young adults, ages 18-24, to commit ten months of community service. Corps members receive room and board and a modest living allowance in return. Upon successful completion of the program, members earn a $4,725 Education Award that can be used for educational advancement or the repayment of student loans.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a part of AmeriCorps, a network of national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For information about AmeriCorps, visit www.americorps.gov.