AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) an arm of The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) works “with national and community nonprofits, faith-based groups, schools, and local agencies, engaging more than 5 million Americans each year in meeting critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, disaster services, and other areas.” Health Haven Botanical Gardens has been honored to receive more than 50 weeks of AmeriCorps team support along with receiving the coveted Southwest Region AmeriCorps Sponsor Award.
“AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time residential program open to U.S. citizens, nationals, and lawful permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 24, with no upper age limit for Team Leaders. It is working to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. In exchange for a successful year of service, AmeriCorps Members earn a modest living allowance and an education award, equal in value to the Federal Pell Grant, which can be used to pay for college or to pay back qualified student loans.”
Health Haven’s current AmeriCorps Team ‘Water 4’ is focused on developing the Home Gardening Demonstration area. In celebration of their service, March 9th was declared an official Americorps Day in West Plains by Mayor Jack Pahlman. To date, eight pallets of landscape stone has been supplied by Mountain Home Arkansas Home Depot and Health Haven BG received a collaborative grant from Missouri Department of Agriculture for additional materials to complete the home gardening demonstration project and for fencing around the Community Garden. Howell County Extension donated soil tests and Karri Koeling is providing horse manure to enrich the beds.
Lodging and food assistance are provided by the local community served. While stationed in West Plains, AmeriCorps team members have received lodging at MSU Student Housing, All Saints Episcopal Church parsonage and Health Haven Botanical Gardens. Showers, pool and fitness center accommodations have been supplied by the West Plains Civic Center. Meals and snacks have been provided by Ozarks Medical Center, Bootleggers, Ozarks Café, Captain Ds, Wendy’s, Spring Dipper, Go Farm Farmer’s Market, West Plains Farmers Market, Domino’s Pizza, Caseys on Broadway, Fish Shack, Little Ceasars Pizza, Howard and Suzanne Davis, Barbra Knight, Midge Heater, Jessica Nease, Don & Jeri Dias, Health Haven BG Board of Directors, Savors, Rameys, Walmart, WP Community Garden, Boys & Girls Club, Southern Builders Assoc., West Plains Beverage, Coca-Cola and many others.
“Team members are also provided with uniforms, health benefits, childcare benefits, loan forbearance, and a modest living allowance” through CNCS. “All Members receive training in leadership, team building, disaster services, and civic engagement. “Typical AmeriCorps NCCC service activities include: • leading youth development activities; • constructing and rehabilitating low-income housing; • trail building and environmental restoration; • helping communities develop emergency plans; and • addressing other pressing local needs.”
Project sponsor Health Haven Botanical Gardens along with partners West Plains Community Garden and Boys and Girls Club of Greater West Plains have been addressing food security issues, conservation and experiential hands-on STEAM learning opportunities. The AmeriCorps teams have assisted with garden beds and fencing at the WP Community Garden, Boy Scout Eagle Projects and Girl Scout Gold Projects at Health Haven as well as the Kinder Club and Positive Sprouts program for Boys and Girls Club.
While in West Plains, AmeriCorps teams have also provided service for many other organizations and events such as: GOCAT, Habitat for Humanity, Regional Animal Shelter, Independent Living, Old Time Music Festival, Home and Garden Show, Brew Fest, Casino Night, Cystic Fibrosis Event, Galloway Park, Parkside House, Frisbee Golf Course, WP Zizzers Homecoming Parade, Taste of Missouri, Bringing Back the American Small Farm Conference, Yellow House, Oz Small Business Incubator, CASA and West Plains Animal Control.
Accomplishing their targeted projects requires collaboration and donation of volunteer manpower, tools, supplies, services, money and equipment. Some of the many contributors include: Reeves Hauling and Excavating, Community First Bank, Timberland Forest Products, Johnny Murrel, Jessica Nease, Honorable David Evans, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Aaron Evans, Stan Cooper, Anchala & Nalini Reddy Family, Sarah and Barrett Wittenauer, Don and Jeri Dias, Carol Lenardi, Teresa Skinner, Iver Johnson, Mike McMahon, Lea Lashaway, Caroline and Patricia, Brinkerhoff Family, Garry Butler Crane, City of West Plains, Yvonne Saunders, Justin Saunders, Bowen Family, Dorothea Berthoud, Eagle Scout Jarom Wilber family & friends, Gordon Berthoud, Helene and Bob Hipple, Jennifer Callahan, Greir Hull, Emilie Hoglen, Lisa Hull, Stephanie London, Richard Rector, Ginny Henderson, Dawn Hicks, Ozark Native Plant Society, Missouri Department of Conservation, Walmart, Turning Leaf, Ozarks Medical Center, John Kaiser, Lehman Adkissen, Jason Gargione, Ernie Hatley, Betty Queen, J & S Welding, Brent Whitwell Gravel, Gary and Regina York, Travis Smith, Cary Stewart, Dakota Cordel, John Taylor, Dr. Robert Jones, West Plains Elementary School, Glenwood School, Cawvey Family, Donna Hensley, Dr. Eugene Ulmanis, Karri and John Koehling, Tim Rosa, Roy Crouch, Emilie Gibson, Maggie Clifford, Becky Cooper, Debbie Davison, Judy Gordon, Andy Ingalsbe, Collins Family, Habitat for Humanity, Meeks, RP Lumber, Eagle Scout Levi Baker family & friends, Linda Collins, Jay Godwin Architect, Johns Family, Doyle Lynch, Patrice and Craig Jennings, Dr. Linda Reisner, MSU-WP Ag Dept., Cheri Holmes Quality Floors, Westlake Ace Hardware, ABC Carpet, State Farm, Zach and Southern Bank, Howell County Extension, Howell County Health Department, Mayor Jack Pahlman, Sadie Hutchison, Bill and Jan Pierson, Greg Stevens, Morgan Jones, Mark Joliff, Community Foundation of the Ozarks,Miranda Farms, Rick Wahner, Josh and Mandy Wilber Family, Eagle Scout Jaden Wilber family & friends, Jeremy and Amanda, Jefferson Thomas, Rick Hoover, Jacob Zeh, Theresa Dias, Zimmermans High Tunnels, Wendy Ziegler, and dozens of others too numerous to mention whose contributions are greatly appreciated.
Through the AmeriCorps teams’ service, we are building social capital, bringing unity to community. AmeriCorps NCCC offers service oriented manpower that is committed to and celebrates diversity in all environmental conditions; acknowledging that everyone “contributes a wealth of values and experiences to the work and service environment: age, race, gender, ethnicity, physical ability, education, religion, marital status, socio-economic status, political ideology, and more.” As we welcome and cherish differences, treating everyone with a common standard of decency, we enhance our community’s success and overall quality of life. This is the essence of AmeriCorps.
