Scroll down the page to see a handful of the most recent Stories of Service from our members. You can also check out dozens of unique experiences our members have shared about all of the awesome ways their service has positively impacted them AND the communities they served in across our state over the years by clicking this link: Stories of Service.
Aynslee McNeel
"My name is Aynslee McNeel, and I am serving as an AmeriCorps member with the Center for Natural Lands Management in Olympia Washington. My role with CNLM includes three days a week of active restoration on the prairies, and two days a week working at the CNLM seed farm where we grow native plants. With the help of a small team of restoration workers and volunteers, close to 20 acres of prairie was covered in thousands of small native plants. The hope is for these plants to flourish, helping in the creation of healthy prairies in the Olympia area! I see this experience providing me with a plethora of knowledge related to prairies, plants, and conservation as a whole. I am feeling grateful to partake in this experience. Through this position with CNLM, I learn something new every day."
Aubrey McDaniels
"My name is Aubrey McDaniels and I have been serving as a reading tutor at Lacey Elementary. Along with reading and writing, I have also learned to help students understand and cope with their sometimes-overwhelming emotions. At Lacey Elementary, February was dedicated to kindness and all classroom doors and bulletin boards were decorated to reflect the theme. I helped create a sensory wall inspired by The Rainbow Fish made out of different textures and materials such as sequins, smooth and fuzzy fabric, sandpaper, velcro, and yarn. As many know, the famous motif from The Rainbow Fish encourages an understanding that kindness brings forth happiness. I feel grateful to be able to express my own creativity in a way that is beneficial to the emotional development of the new generation."
Brylee Axelson-Ney
P/Y 24-25 "My name is Brylee, and I am an AmeriCorps member serving at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (PBNERR) in Skagit County, Washington. At the reserve I am a natural resource steward and specialize in invasive species control and removal. The main target of our efforts is trapping and removing invasive European green crabs in Padilla Bay. The main goal of invasive removal is to stop the crabs from maintaining a breeding population full of mature females and males. With the addition of two AmeriCorps members to the stewardship team we were able to add a lot more manpower to the trapping efforts. Being a part of the stewardship team at Padilla Bay I have not only gained many professional skills for my field, but I am also finding my passion for intertidal conservation. I am looking forward to what the rest of my service term will bring and widening my horizons for my future career."
Gian Rosario
P/Y 23-24 "My name is Gian Rosario, an AmeriCorps member serving as a Digital Skills Resource Navigator (DSRN) at the Seattle Public Library. Halfway into my term as a Digital Navigator, I’ve cultivated community connections, empowered non-digital natives, and collaborated with my fellow Digital Navigators to bridge the digital divide. Reflecting on my journey as a Digital Navigator, I realized that my role transcended beyond digital support it was about fostering a culture of empowerment and inclusivity. With each person I helped, I witnessed the transformative power of digital literacy—a pathway to opportunity and prosperity."
Brett Larson
P/Y 24-25 "Having decided to stay another term here as an Environmental Educator with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, I excitedly continue to connect people and the natural world! It is undoubtedly a remarkable place. I still love working and giving presentations to the kids, and the chances to work outside, get crafty and further my understanding. On my second time through I have the drive to reach new heights of achievement, confident in my abilities! The first quarter of my second term has brought the return of familiar programs like Salmon in the Classroom, but also brought new colleagues, amazing opportunities, and of adventure as well!"
Charlotte Whiting
P/Y 24-25 "The Hunger Intervention Program is a non-profit organization located in Lake City serving their community through various programs. I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve as an AmeriCorps volunteer for their Senior Meals Program. The Senior Meals Program helps provide meals to individuals over the age of 60. Part of our program’s responsibility is creating a menu that helps to meet nutritional requirements. These meals help to ease the stress of (seniors) having to prepare good food and spending lots of money on groceries that are increasing in cost in an already expensive area. I get the pleasure of interacting with some of my participants and get to hear how important and appreciated these meals are. it has been an enriching experience in outreach for something that I have felt passionate about in my own personal life."
Lex Barnard
P/Y 23-24 "I’m an AmeriCorps gleaning specialist serving with Harvest Pierce County and Pierce Conservation District in Puyallup, Washington. The goal of Harvest Pierce County is to provide equitable access to hyper-local produce, community education for agricultural sovereignty, and to aid in reducing food waste. My role as a gleaning specialist is to aid in conducting outreach to our community on the benefits of gleaning, fruit tree maintenance and care, and the significance of reducing food waste. I also provide support to our gleaning sites and over 90 community gardens with a combination of classes, field work, and volunteer management. The gleaning season for 2023 we saved a record breaking 64,133lbs of produce from landfills – going instead to food banks, local cideries and winemakers, livestock farmers, and compost."
