USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

United We Serve (www.serve.gov)

Marketing Regulatory Programs (MRP)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

During responses to natural disasters, APHIS uses volunteers for animal/pet evacuation and sheltering activities.  These volunteers are provided through the Humane Society (http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/)

 and though Citizen Corps, (http://www.citizencorps.gov/) an organization supported by the Department of Homeland Security to help coordinate volunteer activities in communities to better prepare and respond to emergency situations.

Rural Development (RD)

Rural Housing

Opportunities to volunteer exist in our Rural Housing Program. Individuals can volunteer to take part in the “Self Help” housing program (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/brief_selfhelpsite.htm)

to construct new housing for low income and elderly people. National Home Ownership Celebration week is an opportunity to highlight this program and others and takes place in the month of June.

The Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS)

Foreign Agriculture Service

The Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS)  http://www.fas.usda.gov/ engages volunteers on a short-term, long-term or part-time basis.  Volunteers at FAS are typically students, either working in DC or overseas.  Depending on their length of service and the type of work performed, volunteers in the DC area may be required to obtain a security clearance.  Overseas volunteers would require security clearances and visas. Typically the work performed by student volunteers has been related to commodity analysis, market promotion activities (e.g., trade shows, in-store promotions, trade servicing with the local cooperators).  Volunteers are required to sign a service agreement which outlines the acceptance terms of the agreement.

Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)

Forest Service

Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/ycc.htm

 is a Forest Service-conducted program for youth aged 15 to 18 years who typically work on crews for 8 weeks in the summer on a broad range of conservation projects, and may also work in offices and on other types of assignments.  We also partner with other organizations to create “hosted” YCC-type crews.  Currently, over 900 youth experience a summer’s worth of conservation work annually.  In the past, the Forest Service typically trained approximately 11,000 students annually.

Individual and Sponsored programs provide volunteers an opportunity to become involved with their public lands, “give back”, participate in service learning, and help the Forest Service care for the land and serve people.  Volunteers may work individually or with a group.  Groups serving in this capacity include the Retired Senior Volunteers http://www.seniorcorps.gov/, Audubon Society http://www.audubon.org/, and many others.  Individual and group-sponsored volunteers receive no pay, yet over 70,000 volunteers contribute more than 3.4 million of hours each year in all branches of the agency.

 Senior Programs have a special place in the Forest Service.  In previous years, the Senior Community Service Program  http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/html_docs/aboutscsep.cfm

(SCSEP) was administered by the Forest Service through a grant from the Department of Labor.  This program flourished for thirty years, benefiting economically disadvantaged seniors and the agency.  Today, the Forest Service remains strongly committed to the spirit of the SCSEP program, and continues to host SCSEP participants in partnership with non-profit organizations.  Additionally, the Forest Service is actively pursuing partnerships to directly employ seniors as authorized in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill).

Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs)  http://www.fs.fed.us/people/volunteer/jc_locations.htm - The Forest Service operates 22 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers in partnership with the U. S. Department of Labor.  Job Corps was created in 1964 by the Economic Opportunity Act, modeled after the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, an emergency relief program that provides, room, board, and employment to thousands of unemployed young people.  The Job Corps program has turned around the lives of thousands of at-risk young people by providing education, training and a connection to our lands through resource conservation.  Annually, the Centers train 5,000-7,000 students who want to learn the social and academic skills needed to start careers.  Students aged 16 through 24 who meet the economic criteria may obtain a high school or a general equivalency diploma and vocational training, primarily in a residential setting. Courses include cement masonry, welding, clerical skills, painting, carpentry, bricklaying, food service and culinary arts, forestry, and other skills.

Passport in Time http://www.passportintime.com/  is a volunteer archaeology and historic preservation program.  Over the years, volunteers have helped the Forest Service stabilize ancient cliff dwellings in New Mexico, excavate a 10,000-year-old village site in Minnesota and a 19^th century Chinese mining site in Hell’s Canyon in Idaho, restore a historic lookout tower in Oregon, and clean vandalized rock art in Colorado.

Volunteer Fire Assistance http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/partners/vfa/  is a program in which the Forest Service provides technical and financial assistance to local communities - through the States - to protect State and private forestlands threatened by wildfire. Volunteer Fire Assistance is for communities with populations of fewer than 10,000 individuals. Through this program, the Forest Service provides support to respond to natural and human-caused disasters in rural America.  In FY 2009, the Forest Service’s VFA program will provide financial assistance to approximately 4,100 volunteer fire departments in rural communities.  The actual number of volunteer fire departments assisted and the type of work that is accomplished depends on project selection, which is decided by each State.  In FY 2008, the Forest Service provided Volunteer Fire Assistance funding to 5,591 communities. The funding helped with the training of over 10,000 firefighters; the organization or expansion of more than 100 fire departments; and the purchase, rehabilitation, and maintenance of over $4 million dollars of equipment. 

National Forest Foundation (NFF)  http://www.nationalforests.org/ - Creating a community of people who care about the National Forests and Grasslands is an important aspect of the National Forest Foundation's mission.  Friends of the Forest is a program through the National Forest Foundation that empowers people to care for our National Forests through giving, volunteering, and enjoying unforgettable outdoor experiences.  Friends of the Forest have shown their enthusiasm and commitment to their favorite National Forests and Grasslands through participation in numerous Friends of the Forest Days.  In 2007, over 1,400 volunteers--adults and youth-- helped restore trails and streams, spread native seeds, and pulled weeds at 34 events on 20 National Forests and Grasslands in 14 states.

Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Earth Team Volunteer Program  http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/FEATURE/volunteers/vol/join.asp - The Earth Team expands NRCS services by using volunteer time and talent to help accomplish the NRCS mission.  Since 1982, approximately 428,000 Earth Team volunteers donated more than 13 million hours of service.  In fiscal year 2008, NRCS had 31,662 volunteers who served 812,404 hours. Contact: Michele Eginoire; 515- 289-0325, ext. 102; michele.eginoire@usda.gov

Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program – https://www.acesprogram.org/home.aspx

This newly authorized program, from the 2008 Farm Bil, is similar to a volunteer program except workers have to be 55 years or older and they receive wages.  A key feature of ACES is that retired employees (including from Federal government) can participate in the program and earn wages without impact to their retirement annuities.  NRCS launched a three-year demonstration project in 2005 to develop procedures and processes to carry out a cost effective ACES program. More than 300 enrollees participated in the demonstration project.

Congress authorized the ACES Program in Section 1252, Subtitle F of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended by the 2008 Farm Bill.  The purpose of ACES is to use the talents of individuals, who are age 55 or older, but not employees of USDA or a State agriculture agency to provide technical services in support of the conservation-related programs and authorities carried out by the Secretary of Agriculture.  All NRCS offices throughout the States, National Headquarters (NHQ), and Centers can participate in the ACES Program.  Efforts are underway to permit the use of ACES throughout USDA.

The ACES Program provides a cost-effective opportunity to obtain the services of experienced workers age 55 or older on a temporary basis through an agreement with eligible nonprofit organizations. ACES enrollees are not federal employees, cannot perform inherently governmental work, and wages earned do not impact retirement annuities.  We currently have approximately 250 ACES enrollees.

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

Many of the USDA/FNS Food Distribution Programs are heavily dependent on volunteers to assist in delivering food assistance to needy Americans.  The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) are typically operated by food banks, community action agencies and local food pantries.  These organizations have a variety of needs that may be met by volunteers, including  packing and delivering food boxes, serving meals at soup kitchens and homeless shelters, delivering nutritious meals to the elderly, and collecting excess fruit and vegetables for use in feeding the hungry. To volunteer, contact your local food bank. http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

SFSP is the single largest Federal resource available for local organizations that want to combine a feeding program with a summer activity program for children. During the school year, nutritious meals are available for children through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. But those programs end when school ends for the summer.  Children in your community do not need to go hungry this summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program helps fill the hunger gap. Volunteers are needed to help serve food and provide activities for children. Get involved locally by contacting your State agency. http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Contacts/StateDirectory.htm

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP serves as the first line of defense against hunger.  SNAP enables low-income families to buy nutrition food with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards at authorized retail stores.  SNAP also offers nutrition education to assist them to purchase healthy foods on a budget and maintain physically active lifestyles.  Volunteer opportunities are available at faith- and neighborhood-based organization involved in SNAP outreach.  Volunteers are trained to provide SNAP application assistance to low income families and participate in outreach events to raise awareness of the nutrition benefits of SNAP.  Contact your local SNAP office for more information.   http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/map.htm

Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

WIC programs improve the health of women, infants, and young children by providing supplemental foods, nutrition and breastfeeding education, and access to health services.  Access to fresh produce is provided through the WIC food package as of October 1, 2009 and the Famers’ Market Nutrition Program.  WIC participants are certified at local health departments and satellite clinics, some of which are located in remote areas.  Volunteer opportunities within the WIC program might include the following: meet and greet applicants/participants when they come into the clinic, assist them with the sign-in process, entertain or look after older children who may have had to come along while their moms/infant or toddler siblings are talking with the WIC staff, and assist WIC nutritionists with food demonstrations and other group nutrition education classes or activities. Individuals interested in volunteer activities should contact the local WIC Agency Director. http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/statealpha.HTM

Child Nutrition Programs

Child Nutrition Programs provide support for children to eat to learn and learn to eat with nutritious school meals. These programs also provide nutrition assistance for day care, after school, and summer programs.  The following are just a few of the ways you can help make child nutrition a priority in your community:  

·         Encourage local schools to participate in Team Nutrition http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/team.html

·         Participate in nutrition-focused classes and events in community through USDA Extension http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html