2020 Michigan Community Service Commission Accomplishments 

The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) started out 2020 with Governor Gretchen Whitmer signing the new State Service Plan.

The 2020-2022 State Service Plan outlines the Michigan Community Service Commission’s vision for volunteerism and national service in Michigan for the next three years. The State Service Plan is a guide for future decision-making, investment and collaboration to improve Michigan’s communities. The 2020–2022 plan outlines ways to strengthen partnerships to expand the impact of volunteerism, national service, mentoring and disaster preparedness efforts in the state.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Supported Volunteers and Donations

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and new challenges arose. Volunteers and AmeriCorps Members had to adapt their service to continue meeting community needs while following health guidelines. MCSC supported both volunteer and donations management.

MCSC would like to thank all the partners that rallied together to help others during a very difficult time. Watch a thank you video from MCSC chair Robert Kolt.

• More than 7,000 volunteers joined the Michigan COVID-19 team.
• The Michigan Food Bank Council partnered with the MCSC to help provide volunteers and secure donations.  Over 330,218 volunteer hours were tracked.
• MCSC and other departments secured personal protection equipment and products.

1,000 AmeriCorps Members Made an Impact

AmeriCorps members adapted their service to aid COVID-19 relief efforts. AmeriCorps members, engaged in the following activities in response to the pandemic:

• Providing emergency food distribution
• Connected residents to housing, food, water, and health care
• Delivered basic needs and hygiene kits
• Assisted at drive-thru testing sites
• Collected and delivered PPE
• Assisted with contact tracing
• Distributed COVID-19 safety information
• Provided virtual support for distance learning

AmeriCorps members also achieved the following results:

• 43,513 youth received support
• 31,536 youth received college advising
• 10,430 students accepted to post-secondary institutions
• 6,366 Students receiving education program support
• 2,331 students improved academic performance math and literacy
• 5,384 individuals received access to nutrition and hunger resources 

Volunteerism Generation Fund Grant - Reimaging Service

• The Commission received the largest Volunteer Generation Fund grant   in the country, totaling $2,222,811 over three years. 
• The funds will support organizations in their response to COVID-19 by identifying resources and collaborating regionally to meet compelling needs.
• The project will use innovative technology systems to support skills-based volunteerism, support corporate volunteerism and virtual volunteering and youth volunteerism to make a meaningful impact.

National Days of Service

•  National Days of Service projects adjusted to be virtual and outside with social distancing.
• MCSC supported 51 volunteer projects for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Global Youth Service Day and 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance.
• The Projects engaged over 6,000 volunteers and provided nearly 20,000 service hours.

Mentoring and Youth Development Support Expands

• The MCSC Youth Impact AmeriCorps VISTA Program expanded to 28 host sites and 36 AmeriCorps VISTA members.
• AmeriCorps VISTA members provided capacity resources to empower youth to be successful in school and/or work during COVID-19 recovery.
• Mentor Michigan implemented the National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS) to assist mentoring programs adopt evidence-based mentoring standards and procedures to help organizations enhance their programs.

Mid-Michigan Flooding - Engaging Volunteers

• In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, another disaster struck our state.
• Michigan was first in the nation to experience a natural disaster during the pandemic.
• MCSC assisted with engaging volunteers and resources to provide services during the initial phase and helped to establish long term recovery groups in the area.

Continue To Help in 2021

The needs continue to be great. This is a time for us to come together and find ways to help. 

MCSC looks forward to continuing our work with you to make a difference in our great state.