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Read Stories of Service
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AmeriCorps |
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Michele Kehl |
Bowley's Quarters, Baltimore County, MD |
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Michele Kehl's assignment as an AmeriCorps*VISTA in the low-income Bowley's Quarters community in Baltimore County, Maryland, coincided with the arrival of Hurricane Isabel in September 2003. The hurricane not only caused millions of dollars of damage, but also devastated community residents psychologically. Amid the ensuing sense of despair, Kehl emerged as a leader in creating programs to begin repairing the physical damage and also restore the spirit of the people. Her efforts have led to the contribution of more than 13,000 hours from approximately 300 volunteers and monetary contributions of $83,400. Volunteers removed tons of debris and repaired homes. To assist with the emotional recovery of the residents, Kehl helped to organize an evening meal program with a local church, through which volunteers prepared and served an average of 200 dinners a week. As a manifestation that the residents' despair has turned to hope, they became involved with several service projects, including collecting and sending packages of gifts to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
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