Do you want to help your community while earning money to put toward college or to pay back student loans? Consider joining AmeriCorps.
Participants in the program spend 10 to 12 months volunteering either full- or part-time for one of a variety of community service projects. Those that complete the program are eligible for the AmeriCorps Education Award, which gives upwards of $4,725 to be put toward higher education or paying down qualifying student loan debt. In addition to this, participants receive training, student loan deferment and health coverage while they are a part of the program. Some even qualify for a small annual living allowance to cover basic living expenses.
Positions include everything from tutoring kids to responding to natural disasters. Go here to search for programs in your area.
Now may be the best time to research opportunities with AmeriCorps, as the program is slated to more than triple in size. This is due to the Serve America Act. Going in to effect October 1, the 75,000 current AmeriCorps positions will increase to 250,000 within the next eight years.
So consider doing something good for your country while earning money to help further, or pay off, your education.
For more community service opportunities, go to nationalservice.gov, volunteermatch.com or read our 2007 article Good Service.
--Cody
Post new comment