Tomorrow 10 Michigan's AmeriCorps members will leave for San Diego, California, where they will be working in shelters to assist evacuees of the wildfires blazing through southern California.  The members are part of the AmeriCorps Together We Prepare program, which is administered by the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids and has members serving throughout Michigan.

Each of the AmeriCorps members are making a three-week commitment to set up and work in the shelters that are assisting families that have lost their homes or are in danger of losing their homes.  The following members are preparing for tomorrow's deployment:

The American Red Cross Greater Grand Rapids Chapter recently received a $336,000 grant from the Michigan Community Service Commission to continue the work of the Together We Prepare AmeriCorps program.  The MCSC is a state agency that builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism.  It is part of the Michigan Department of Human Services.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Michigan's AmeriCorps is often compared to a domestic Peace Corps. Currently, there are 19 Michigan's AmeriCorps programs housed within nonprofit organizations, schools, and other agencies throughout the state.  Individuals, called members, are involved with disaster preparedness, tutoring and mentoring children, helping the homeless, feeding the hungry, protecting the environment, and more.   In an average year, Michigan's AmeriCorps members help improve the lives of more than 110,000 people and recruit more than 25,000 volunteers.