Published: July 02, 2009 10:01 pm      

Local nonprofit takes part in United We Serve Campaign

The Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team (ACCWT) is joining forces with President Barack Obama in his United We Serve Campaign, which was recently implemented to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer.

Last week, 18 high-level administration officials, including First Lady Michelle Obama, joined volunteers in service as part of the United We Serve’s nationwide kickoff.

The initiative will focus on education, health, energy and the environment, and community renewal, and is being led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that stimulates volunteering and service in communities.

Here in Beckley, the ACCWT is participating by recruiting volunteers and new watershed groups.

“In these tough economic times, we need volunteers more than ever,” said Allan Comp, founder and coordinator for the ACCWT.

The ACCWT says they’re facing increasing demands for services, and volunteers will help them fill a growing need.

“This summer, I’m calling on all of you to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of this nation,” President Obama said in a statement.

“Economic recovery is as much about what you’re doing in your communities as what we’re doing in Washington — and it’s going to take all of us, working together.”

To make it easy for individuals to get involved, a Web site (www.serve.gov) has been created.

Visitors can type in their zip code to find local volunteer opportunities, recruit volunteers by posting their organization’s projects, or to get ideas for creating their own projects with friends, families and neighbors.

The ACCWT has projects listed on the site.

“Everyone has something to give, and summer is a great time to get involved,” Comp said.

“By serving this summer, we hope more local residents will make an ongoing commitment to volunteering throughout the year.”

United We Serve will continue through September 11.

For the first time, September 11, 2009, will be marked as a national day of service and remembrance.

The ACCWT is a coalition of watershed improvement groups determined to repair the environmental degradation left from historic coal mining, while creating economic stability needed in our rural communities.

With its support office located in Beckley, the ACCWT works throughout an eight-state Appalachian region (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama) with unified goals to build local capacity, monitor water quality, enhance outreach and education, engage redevelopment and require professional development.

The Team is supported by an innovative partnership between AmeriCorps VISTA and the Office of Surface Mining.

The ACCWT began in 2002 as an OSM/VISTA initiative, placing determined college-trained OSM/VISTA Volunteers in a year of service in rural mining communities.

The ACCWT has 36 OSM/VISTAs in the field with another 24 positions funded under the Recovery Act and 20 Summer Associates starting this spring/summer.

Interested persons wishing to become an OSM/VISTA or watershed groups wishing to work with the ACCWT can contact OSM/VISTA Recruit Coordinator Kat Bawden at 304-461-3135 or recruit@accwt.org.