ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network)—Participants serving in Mennonite Voluntary Service and Service Adventure will not receive education grants through the AmeriCorps Education Award Program for the 2011-2012 term, Mennonite Mission Network has learned. The cuts are a result of the federal government’s reductions to the AmeriCorps budget.
Mennonite Voluntary Service and Service Adventure are year-long service opportunities for young adults through Mennonite Mission Network. Mennonite Voluntary Service participants are typically recent college graduates, while Service Adventure participants tend to be recent high school graduates.
In previous years, nearly half of the participants in these two programs received educational grants of $5,350 per year to help pay college or graduate school tuition or pay student loans. Fifty Mennonite Mission Network participants received educational assistance grants last year out of 106 participants.
Mennonite Mission Network has participated in the AmeriCorps program through the Catholic Volunteer Network, a networking organization for more than 200 faith-based volunteer groups, including other Anabaptist service programs, such as Brethren Volunteer Service. The Catholic Volunteer Network was one of more than 300 umbrella organizations that applied for AmeriCorps educational grants, but was not one of the 50 approved this year.
The Catholic Volunteer Network plans to reapply for access to the educational grant next year.
Del Hershberger, the director of Mission Network’s Christian Service programs, is hopeful that cuts to educational grants will not affect participation in either service program.
The cuts in AmeriCorps funding, however, could have a devastating effect on organizations that rely on AmeriCorps volunteers to provide valuable services in their communities. Furthermore, the grants are one way low-income students can afford college.
“This is just one example of how budget decisions in Washington are felt here on the ground,” Hershberger said. “But this is also an opportunity for the church to step up and support our young people who want to join the long tradition of service that the Mennonite Church is known for.”
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact Andrew Clouse at andrewc@mmnworld.net, 574-523-3024 or 866-866-2872, ext. 23024.
