Meetings Also Planned with FEMA, State, and Local Officials

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the President’s national service chief David Eisner begins a three-day swing through the Gulf Coast to meet with federal and state emergency officials and visit AmeriCorps and Senior Corps volunteers who’ve been helping communities recover from the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Since Katrina struck, more than 12,300 national service volunteers have contributed to the hurricane relief and recovery effort in the Gulf Coast and others states across the country. They have established and operated shelters, provided meals and social services to evacuees, assisted with communications, coordinated the warehousing and distribution of donated goods, answered phones, cleared debris, provided information on housing and other resources, raised funds, and managed community volunteers, among other activities.

Eisner, who oversees the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs in his post as CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, will devote most of his trip to meeting with federal, state, and local officials as well as nonprofit and education leaders to coordinate response efforts and understand how national services resources can be best deployed to help individuals and communities recover from these devastating storms. Eisner’s schedule includes the following visits. Interviews can be arranged by calling 202-606-6724.

• Morning meetings with officials from FEMA, Governor Barbour’s office, state emergency management, the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, and others at the Joint Field Office in Jackson followed by a tour of statewide call center and donations warehouse
   
• Afternoon travel to Gulf Coast to visit AmeriCorps and Senior Corps program sites in Biloxi and Pass Christian, where the Corporation is serving as partner with Good Morning America to help the community rebuild over the next year.

• Morning meeting with nonprofit and faith-based organizations in Baton Rouge, followed by meeting at Joint Field Office with FEMA and representatives from voluntary agencies including Red Cross, Salvation Army, Islamic Relief Foundation, Catholic Charities, Southern Baptist Organization and United Methodist Group.
   
• Afternoon roundtable discussion with representative from national service programs including American Red Cross, Southwest Area Health Education Corps, Foster Grandparents, Catholic Life Center.
   
• Meeting with university presidents and designees from Southern University, Loyola University, Xavier University, and others.
   
• Dinner with national service volunteers at Tent City in Port Allen.

Saturday, Oct. 22: Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La.

• Participate in Make a Difference Day project in Baton Rouge, where four local Louisiana AmeriCorps programs will paint apartments for hurricane evacuees.
   
• Travel to New Orleans for tour of impacted areas and assessing sites for future national service projects.
   
• Participate in Make a Difference Day project in Baton Rouge, where four local Louisiana AmeriCorps programs will paint apartments for hurricane evacuees.
   
• Travel to New Orleans for tour of impacted areas and assessing sites for future national service projects.

Corporation programs have a long history of involvement public safety, public health, and emergency preparedness and response, including longstanding partnerships with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, and other agencies. The Corporation became a signatory to the National Response Plan in 2005, making it part of the official Federal plan to protect our nation from natural and manmade hazards and attacks.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Together with USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

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