AmeriCorps Volunteers Recognized for Flood Clean-up Efforts

Volunteers Celeste Geralds, Cindy Perkins and Jake Dunne, 16, all of Cedar Rapids, rake leaves at Ushers Ferry on Saturday, March 21, 2009, in Cedar Rapids. Volunteers joined three AmeriCorps teams to clean up the historic village and prepare it for the summer. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Mar 21, 2009 at 4:34 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 21, 2009 at 7:35 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - A flood-damaged Cedar Rapids home was the site of a thank you ceremony Saturday afternoon. Representative Dave Loebsack visited AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers at a northwest Cedar Rapids home. The group has spent months cleaning, painting, and putting up dry wall in damaged homes.

Volunteers say they don't seek such recognition, but they do appreciate it. Jimmy Kelly told TV9, "I think it is really important to continue the work being done in Cedar Rapids and have people like Representative Loebsack come and show his support and that anyone can do work."

Loebsack also told the volunteers about his work on the GIVE Act. If passed, the federal act would help strengthen volunteer programs nationwide.

Other AmeriCorps volunteers spent a sunny Saturday morning breaking a sweat at Ushers Ferry Historic Village. Members from the community joined the efforts raking leaves and replacing brick throughout the grounds.

The living history museum sustained significant damage during June's flood. Volunteers were pleased with the amount of work they were able to accomplish. John Black told TV9, "Well, we had 29 community members come out today so on top of having our three teams here it was close to 70 people here. It was pretty good, got a good crowd."

The Ushers Ferry staff hopes to have the historic village open for special events, workshops, and private parties sometime this summer.

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