Institute of Rural Health Awarded $402,996 to Host Service Events

The Institute of Rural Health (IRH) has received a grant of $402,996 from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The grant will expand the IRH’s presence throughout Idaho where it has provided services to improve the health of communities through research, education, and service since 1989.

The Days of Service grant competition includes funding for both September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance and Martin Luther King, Jr,. Day of Service. The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance grant funding is to mobilize more Americans to engage in service activities that meet vital community needs and honor the sacrifice of those who lost their lives or family members or who rose in service on September 11, 2001, or who rose in service as a result of the tragedy.

With this continued funding, the IRH will host service events in North Idaho, Central Idaho, and Southeast Idaho throughout the year ending the grant term with a group of community service events in honor of the September 11^th National Day of Service and Remembrance. These events hosted in the fall are aimed to be yearly and to engage the community in honoring those whose lives were lost and the heroes who served the nation that day.

AmeriCorps partners with local community organizations to help improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

Kayla Fielder, lead project coordinator of the AmeriCorps program, says “In year one of this grant so far, we have hosted 27 events, worked with 192 unique volunteers, partnered with 19 plus organizations, and donated 874 items. We still have many more events to come in year one so I know year two will be even better.”

The IRH seeks volunteers interested in planning and organizing community service events and activities. To learn more about ISU’s AmeriCorps programs, contact the Institute of Rural Health at (208) 282-4436 or IRH@isu.edu.