Volunteer Mississippi announced new investments of $3.5 million in federal funds to support AmeriCorps members who will increase student achievement, pre-K through high school readiness, workforce development, knowledge of and access to food security, healthy foods and healthy lifestyles, and support veterans and family members of active military personnel.

“As Mississippi’s lead agency for volunteerism and national service, we are thrilled to announce this funding that is a tremendous benefit to and for Mississippi,” said David Mallery, executive director of Volunteer Mississippi. “Our Mississippi AmeriCorps members provide services that bridge many gaps in services provided and impact many throughout our state. This opportunity benefits many organizations and individuals, as well as the AmeriCorps members themselves, who step up to give a year of service to their community.”

The 2015 AmeriCorps grants will support 522 AmeriCorps members who will serve across the state through 14 sponsoring organizations, two of which have members in Vicksburg — America Reads – Mississippi and Northtown CDC.

America Reads – Mississippi has 87 members who will tutor a total of 1,280 students per day in school settings, resulting in students demonstrating growth equal to or greater than what is expected for one year. Members will also provide homework help and tutoring to 920 K-3 students in afterschool programs resulting in students demonstrating improvement in homework completion and attitudes towards school.

Vicksburg has had volunteers form America Reads – Mississippi serve at Sherman Avenue Elementary School and Warren Central Intermediate School, AmeriCorps Mississippi Officer Judy Stein said.

Northtown CDC engages 20 veterans as AmeriCorps members who connect veterans, their family members, and family members of active military service personnel to existing resources such as VA registration, peer to peer mentoring, and referral for PTSD/Suicide prevention.

Stein said there is one Northtown CDC member in Vicksburg at the WIN Job Center.

For more information on each of these programs, and upcoming funding opportunities, please visit www.volunteermississippi.org.