It is all about making a difference. Newnan resident Ethan Gehl is working in West Virginia as part of a team of 33 National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members providing flood clean-up assistance to residents of the towns of Gilbert and Hanover. At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Gehl and his teammates will muck out houses and remove debris deposited by floodwaters earlier this month. In addition, the team may be asked to run a donations warehouse and staff a call center.

“I have been so fortunate in my life and this is an outstanding opportunity to give back,” Gehl said. “It’s simply the appropriate response.”

Gehl has been doing public service projects with the Atlantic Region NCCC Campus in Perry Point, Maryland since February and has been trained in disaster relief and recovery work. NCCC has responded to every domestic natural disaster since the program began in 1994.

Prior to heading to West Virginia, Gehl worked in Camden, New Jersey at the Camden Children’s Garden as well as at Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans, Lousiana. He is expected to work in West Virginia for at least two weeks.

This is the fifteenth anniversary of AmeriCorps NCCC, a leadership program for young people ages 18 to 24. In exchange for completing 1,700 hours of service during a 10-month term, NCCC members receive an education award of nearly $5,000, plus a living stipend, housing and more. AmeriCorps programs are administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency. Interested applicants and project sponsors are encouraged to learn more by visiting www.americorps.gov/nccc or calling 1-800-942-2677.

login to post comments