As the school year approaches, AmeriCorps VISTAs serving all across WVU and the state have been hard at work preparing for students to return, as well as ensuring the sustainability of the programs they are serving.
Here are a few highlights from projects the AmeriCorps VISTAs are working on:
In response to student feedback, VISTA Catherine Gooding developed a weekly seminar series to start in the fall semester. She created a schedule of events, with weeks alternating between student presentations and skill-building workshops and brainstormed a list of workshop topics.
Gooding shared the topics with the Honors EXCEL program affiliates and coordinated 14 volunteers to lead workshops, including four volunteers already planning for spring semester workshops.
VISTA Yaadieah Pritchet is aiding in preparing schedules, procedures and rules for the fall semester as the Collegiate Recovery Program aims to integrate virtual programming such as an online cooking class with limited capacity in-person programming such as NA meetings and meditation.
Monday’s at The Rack: WVU Student Food Pantry will be dedicated to providing students with different options of fresh fruits and vegetables. VISTA Sydni Vega assists in unloading a delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables and packages them daily for distribution. Since Fresh Food Monday’s has begun, the average number of students who visit the food pantry on Monday’s increased from four to 14. Other days of the week average approximately two to three students.
If you are interested in learning more about the VISTA Collaborative at WVU, please contact operations coordinator Chelsey Franklin at cfrankl3@mail.wvu.edu.