Friday, November 08, 2002
CONTACT: Siobhan Dugan
Phone: 202-606-6707
Email: sdugan@cns.gov
Washington, D.C. — AmeriCorps members serving with veterans programs across the country will spend Veterans Day reaching out to homeless, unemployed, and disabled veterans.
The members serve with U.S. Veterans Initiative, based in Los Angeles, which has operations in eight cities serving some of the nation's 250,000 homeless veterans. AmeriCorps members provide counseling, job assistance, and outreach to thousands of homeless veterans each year.
"Helping veterans in need is just one of the many ways that AmeriCorps members serve our country," said Les Lenkowsky, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps. "Many of the AmeriCorps members placed with U.S. Vets are veterans themselves, and were served by U.S. Vets. They are committed to giving back so that other veterans can receive the kind of aid that proved so critical in their own lives."
Among the activities that AmeriCorps members will participate in is the annual parade in Las Vegas on November 9. AmeriCorps members will march, pushing the wheelchairs of paralyzed veterans. In Washington, AmeriCorps members will serve a turkey luncheon at the Central Union Mission from noon to 2 p.m. Following the meal, the members will distribute clothing. U.S. Vets has served about 1,200 veterans in the past year in the Washington area and 600 in Las Vegas.
AmeriCorps engages more than 50,000 Americans of all ages each year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America.