Local Resident Begins 10 Month Journey of Service

NORTH WILDWOOD – Eileen McGarry, originally from North Wildwood, New Jersey has joined 220 other individuals from across the United States in Vinton, Iowa where they are devoting the next 10 months to giving back to communities in the North Central Region of the United States.
McGarry has been serving with the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), an AmeriCorps program since Feb. 8, 2012. Since arriving, McGarry and the other members have gone through an intensive training to prepare them for serving in communities. This four-week training period emphasized teamwork, leadership development, communication, diversity and service learning. During this time, members were also assigned to one of 21 teams. Each team serves on average four-seven projects during their term of service with NCCC.
On March 8, 2012, NCCC members completed their training and were officially inducted into the AmeriCorps NCCC program with the ceremony being held at Vinton-Shellsburg High School Auditorium. On Mon., March 12, NCCC teams left Vinton to begin serving on their first NCCC service project. McGarry and her team are serving with Lutheran Disaster Response in Minot, N.D. until April 27 conducting flood recovery work, rebuilding and sanitizing homes.
Prior to joining NCCC, McGarry graduated from Wildwood Catholic High School in May 2006 and Sacred Heart University in May 2010 with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology She returned to Sacred Heart and received her Master of Arts in Teaching in August of 2011. McGarry joined NCCC because she has passions in life for traveling and helping others and believes this is the perfect opportunity to combine the two. Before joining NCCC, McGarry went to Joplin, Mo and built 7 houses in 7 days with Extreme Makeover Home Edition. She spoke at a conference for high school students about the importance of volunteering and was a hospitality assisstant at the Nation’s Largest Co-Ed Basketball tournament at our local convention center. She also had the opportunity to be a part of the Host Committee of volunteers called to Indianapolis to assisst with the pre-events of the Super Bowl.
AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, national service program in which 1,100 young adults serve nationwide each year. During their 10-month term, NCCC Members – all 18 to 24 years old – work on teams of eight to 12 on projects that address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, and urban and rural development. Members mentor students, construct and rehabilitate low-income housing, respond to natural disasters, clean up streams, help communities develop emergency plans, and address countless other local needs. The North Central Region campus in Vinton, Iowa is one five regional campuses in the United States and serves Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The other campuses are located in Perry Point, Md.; Sacramento, Calif.; Vicksburg, Miss.; and Denver, Colo.
In exchange for their service, NCCC Members receive $5,550 to help pay for college, or to pay back existing student loans. Other benefits include a small living stipend, room and board, leadership development, increased self-confidence, and the knowledge that, through active citizenship, people can indeed make a difference. AmeriCorps NCCC is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Corporation improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. For more information about AmeriCorps NCCC, visit the website at www.americorps.gov/nccc.