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Greetings!
Did you know that Community Service is ranked in the top four most important factors for college admissions officers? Volunteering in your community does play a key role in admission decisions. Montana Campus Compact, the Student Assistance Foundation, and the Governor's Office of Community Service reward students who have volunteered over 100 hours in the last year and who want to further their education in the state through the Youth Serve Montana Scholarship. This year, 100 high school seniors will receive $1,000 toward continued education at one of Montana Campus Compact's public, tribal, private, or community colleges and universities.
Do you know a high school senior committed to helping your community? The deadline to submit the Youth Serve Montana Scholarship application is April 15th, 2014.
Thank you for serving!
Dan Ritter Executive Director Governor's Office of Community Service |
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 Youth Serve Montana Scholarship
The Youth Serve Montana Scholarship was created to promote volunteerism among high school students, to encourage young leaders to further their learning, and to provide tuition assistance for Montana studentswho wish to attend college in state.
Up to 100 students will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Scholarship funds have been made available through support from Student Assistance Foundation and Montana Campus Compact. The scholarships are administered by the Governor's Office of Community Service. More information and the application form can be found at serve.mt.gov. Scholarship applications are due April 15th.
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Global Youth Service Day, April 11-13, is the world's largest service event, and the only one dedicated to recognizing the contributions that young people make to their communities every day of the year. Through support from Youth Serve America and State Farm, the Governor's Office of Community Service provided mini-grants that will go to help fund 15 youth-led projects throughout the state. Take a look at the GYSD Map for more information about volunteer opportunities in your community.
- Billings, MT: Housing Authority Billings-Garden decorating and maintenance at the Whitetail Run Garden
- Billings, MT: Montana Conservation Corps-Repair a highly-used, recreational trail at Lake Elmo State park
- Bozeman, MT: Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Montana-Construct thank you cards for Montana veterans
- Butte, MT: Montana Tech TRIO-Dig up flower beds, plant trees and shrubs, pick up trash in "reclaimed" areas
- Glasgow, MT: Valley County 4-H-Plant trees and shrubs at the Beacon Bible Camp
- Glasgow, MT: Tampico Boys 4-H Club-Take shingles off a gazebo and replace them with new ones, stain the wood, and pull weeds at Cowbell Park
- Glasgow, MT: Tampico Boys 4-H Club-Renovate a room at the Valley View Nursing Home
- Great Falls, MT: Fight Childhood Hunger Youth Coalition-Recipe contest, Fun Run with First Lady Lisa Bullock, food drives, and community swap meet to raise awareness of childhood hunger
- Havre, MT: Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Line-Clean the grounds and plant vegetables at the Boys and Girls Club
- Kalispell, MT: Center for Restorative Youth Justice-Make donated items for animals at the Humane Society
- Lewistown, MT: Boys and Girls Club of Lewistown-Make "bread in a bag" for Meals on Wheels distribution
- Miles City, MT: Developmental Educational Assistance Program-Clean-up day at Miles City Community Garden
- Missoula, MT: Montana Conservation Corps-Repair a hiking trail with youth from Sussex School
- Missoula, MT: Mountain Home Montana-Community renewal at the Home's site and surrounding area
- Whitefish, MT: Farm Hands Nourish the Flathead-Prepare garden beds and participate in collaborative art project at Flathead Community Gardens
As part of Global Youth Service Day, the Great Falls Youth Coalition is hosting Fight Childhood Hunger Week from April 7-13th in Great Falls to raise awareness of the problem of childhood hunger in the community. Events include a 5K Fun Run with First Lady Lisa Bullock, food drives at local grocery stores, a recipe contest and cook-off, Battle of the Bands, and more. To participate, volunteer, or donate visit fightchildhoodhunger.com.
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AmeriCorps Formula Funding
The RFP for AmeriCorps Formula Funding has officially been posted on the State Procurement website.
Any questions regarding the RFP should be directed to Tia Snyder at the State Procurement Bureau, 406-444-3315, tsnyder@mt.gov.
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2014 ServeMontana Symposium
The 2014 ServeMontana Symposium, The Power of Human Action, was a huge success! The Governor's Office of Community Service welcomed 250 AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and Senior Corps members and staff to Helena in March for three days of training, keynotes, and breakout sessions.
The highlights included our Keynote speakers, University of Montana Regents Professor and leading expert on international human rights, Dr. Paul Gordon Lauren, Montana State University President, Dr. Waded Cruzado, Montana Supreme Court Justice, Beth Baker, Governor Steve Bullock and First Lady Lisa Bullock, and last but definitely not least, Shannon Stober of the Montana Conservation Corps. Members also participated in city-wide service projects at Habitat for Humanity, Montana Wild, School Age Child Care Program (SACC), and more.
For more information about the ServeMontana Symposium and pictures of this year's Symposium, visit serve.mt.gov.
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Let's Get Winter Ready, Montana!
With support from the Governor's Office of Community Service and many other donors, Senior Companion and RSVP volunteers at Missoula Aging Services and Action for Eastern Montana participated in Let's Get Winter Ready, Montana! projects. Volunteers lent a helping hand to their elderly, disabled, and homebound neighbors by helping them prepare for disasters and emergencies of all types.
Volunteers compiled and delivered 275 stocked emergency supply starter kits between the Missoula community and Ft. Peck Reservation. The kits included items such as weather radios, flashlights, blankets, and more. In case of an emergency, the kits will help keep the recipients warm, safe, comforted, and informed until help arrives.
Thanks to our 2014 Partners that contributed their time and energy:
Missoula Aging Services
Action for Eastern Montana
Ft. Peck Seniors Program
Missoula Aging Services Respite Care
Veteran Directed Home and Community Based Services Program
Partners in Home Care
Summit Independent Living Center
Huge thanks to our sponsors:
Missoula Ace Hardware, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Helena Home Depot, Lowes of Helena, Culligan Water, and AARP for their contributions.
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Service and Volunteerism in the News
1. Guests Read for Peace at MLK Missoula affair, KPAX, 1/17/14
2. Volunteers Weatherize Homes to Mark King's Legacy, Missoulian, 1/20/14
3. Billings lawyer recognized for decades of community service, Billings Gazette, 2/3/14
4. ServeMontana Award ceremony, Beartooth NBC, 2/7/14
5. Local Montanans honored for volunteerism, Valley Journal, 2/12/14
6. Montana Conservation Corps help clean avalanche in lower Rattlesnake, NBC Montana, 3/7/14
7. Charity Organization Brings Down the House, Beartooth NBC, 2/12/14
8. Montana Conservation Corps responds to deadly avalance, the Corps Network, 3/13/14
9. Habitat for Humanity crew disassembles home before its demolition, Helena IR, 3/16/14
10. Youth Serve Montana Scholarships available for high schools seniors, KRTV, 3/31/14
 | Montana Conservation Corps crews respond to avalanche cleanup in the Missoula Rattlesnake
Photo credit: NBC Montana |
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Mark Your Calendar
April
- 4/7-4/13 Great Falls Fight Childhood Hunger Week
- 4/11-4/13 Global Youth Service Day
- 4/15 Youth Serve Montana Scholarship application due
May
- 4/30-5/2 Cascade County Community Emergency Response Training (For more information contact: Jim Adkins, jadkins@bresnan.net)
June
- 6/7 National Trails Day
- 6/17 Commission on Community Service Meeting
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Share Your Story
What's new in your community? Send your service stories to serve@mt.gov.
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