COLUMBUS, Ohio — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is celebrating National Volunteer Week April 19-25, 2020, by thanking and honoring its Earth Team volunteers for their service to conservation and the community.
Earth Team is the agency’s volunteer workforce. In fiscal year 2019, 5,425 Ohioans volunteered 41,892 hours of service valued at more than $1 million. Nationally, more than 42,000 people donated 324,744 hours of service to NRCS valued at over $8.2 million.*
“Volunteers work closely with our staff, and they play an important role in Ohio’s conservation work,” said Jon Bourdon, acting state conservationist in Ohio. “Earth Team Volunteers are an NRCS workforce multiplier. They allow NRCS to stretch available resources and help put additional conservation practices on the ground.”
Ohio NRCS Earth Team member Christina Slover was recognized at the national level for her work helping the Barnesville Service Center. Her accomplishments included helping plan and organize the National Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative Conference and the Ohio Area III Conservation Partnership. Slover received the 2019 Earth Team National Individual NRCS award as well as the top Northeast Regional Earth Team member award. Slover’s 374.5 hours of service to NRCS contributed to the efficiency and customer service experience in the Barnesville Service Center.
National Volunteer Week is an opportunity for NRCS to recognize all volunteers in the community in addition to Earth Team members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio NRCS employees volunteered to help members of their community by delivering food to the elderly, donating food to those in need and grocery shopping for the impaired.
“You can be part of the solution,” said David Manthei, Ohio NRCS EQIP program manager. “There were a lot of people hurting and in need even before this virus hit, and it has only compounded the problem.”
David and Brianna Manthei wrote a post on a neighborhood social networking platform offering to help people in their community. Within a few hours, the husband and wife team received a call for help. Since posting their announcement, they have helped a family of five with groceries and an elderly couple with their shopping list.
“This is a real chance for us to come together in our communities to alleviate suffering and fill the needs of others around you,” said David Manthei.
Jim Maple is a retired Ohio NRCS agriculture civil engineer who provides part-time support to NRCS staff with technical services in support of conservation. Maple volunteers for Meals on Wheels delivering food to the elderly and is part of an effort to deliver a two-week supply of food to Stark and Wayne County residents that are confined to their home due to COVID-19.
“Ohio NRCS staff are going above and beyond to serve those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Bourdon. “They are providing a great service to their community with their thoughtful and meaningful acts of kindness.”
The NRCS theme for 2020, “Growing Volunteers for 35 Years”, defines what we, along with our volunteers, do every day.
Volunteer efforts improve the well-being of our community and help better our land and wildlife habitat and contribute to cleaner water and air for everyone. Learn more about the Ohio Earth Team Volunteer Program online or by calling (toll-free) 888-526-3227. For more information on NRCS visit www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov.
— USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
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