The National Service Story

Citizens who proudly serve as national-service volunteers have an immense impact on quality of life in America and in other countries. They have pulled America through hard times, strengthened relationships among diverse peoples and communities, and made a major difference in our country's development.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps, which recruited over four million young people and provided billions of dollars worth of support to communities. Through 11 years of the Great Depression, CCC members restored the nation's parks, revitalized the economy, enabled millions of families to live in dignity, and developed new skills to support themselves and their families. Inspired by the CCC model, over a thousand AmeriCorps* National Civilian Community Corps members are at work today on special urban and rural projects.

Peace Corps

In the 1960s, the call to service came from President John F. Kennedy, who challenged Americans to "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." This strong spirit of citizenship inspired the Peace Corps. Today, thousands of young Peace Corps volunteers travel far and wide to connect America with the world through peaceful service efforts, such as building schools to promote literacy, helping farmers provide food for the hungry, and setting up hospitals to care for the sick. After returning from overseas, Peace Corps volunteers put their new knowledge to work at home, changing America for the better.

VISTA and the National Senior Service Corps

The 1960s also saw the birth of Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), which organizes efforts to help low-income citizens and communities mobilize efforts to address their challenges. One initiative to engage older Americans in service grew into the National Senior Service Corps, which now includes the Foster Grandparents Program, the Senior Companion Program, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

AmeriCorps - A New Wave of Volunteers for the 1990s

In the early 1990s, it became clear that the complex social issues facing America required a new spirit of volunteerism within communities. The Corporation for National Service (CNS), a federal agency, was formed to mobilize a new generation of volunteers to address today's issues head on. AmeriCorps was founded in 1993 as the domestic Peace Corps, with the charge of addressing four basic principles: 1) strengthening communities, 2) encouraging responsibility, 3) expanding opportunities for Members and those they assist, and 4) getting things done in American communities. Under the national and Community Service Act of 1995, as amended, the CNS launched a series of new national service programs: AmeriCorps*State, AmeriCorps* National Direct, Tribes and Territories, and Learn & Serve America. AmeriCorps teams placed in nonprofit organizations, schools, and governmental agencies initiate community service projects that address critical needs in the areas of education, public safety, environment and human needs. The programs are funded through a combination of CNS grants, local grants and citizen donations.

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