Fond farewell: community thanks departing AmeriCorps NCCC members
Published 9:59 am Friday, April 18, 2025
AmeriCorps NCCC members are applauded.
AmeriCorps volunteers take part in a meal put together by community members.
AmeriCorps NCCC members are applauded.
AmeriCorps volunteers take part in a meal put together by community members.
Members of AmeriCorps NCCC depart a meeting Thursday night on the campus of the AmeriCorps NCCC: Southern Region in Vicksburg as scores of community members applaud their service. (Photos by Ben Martin/The Vicksburg Post)
Following this week’s abrupt cut of personnel with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) at the hands of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), community members from Vicksburg and the surrounding areas converged on the AmeriCorps NCCC: Southern Region office on Confederate Avenue Thursday night to wish the volunteers well on their journeys home.
Community members also organized a farewell dinner for the NCCC members, collecting and cooking enough food to feed the 351 demobilized NCCC volunteers on the Southern Region campus following their final meeting before being sent to their respective homes.
Following a visit to AmeriCorps national headquarters earlier this week by DOGE officials, the Trump administration in a letter to all NCCC members effectively ended their 10-month programs immediately.
“In alignment with the Trump-Vance Administration priorities and Executive Order 14222, implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative, AmeriCorps NCCC is working within new operational parameters that impact the program’s ability to sustain program operations,” the letter read. “As a result, AmeriCorps is sending all NCCC members to their homes of record as soon as possible.”
The cut to NCCC personnel comes amid continued efforts on the part of DOGE to curb government spending by offering early retirement or outright firing federal employees. At this time, it remains unclear whether the DOGE cuts will impact AmeriCorps beyond its NCCC program.
AmeriCorps’ NCCC program had a budget of $37.7 million during fiscal year 2024 and was on track to receive $42.7 million during the current fiscal year, according to its website.
Contributing to Thursday’s meal and an “Appreciation Line” formed to applaud NCCC members as they left their final meeting were Jennifer Curro representing Bally’s Vicksburg; Penny Bankston representing WaterView Casino; Mike Marshall representing Crossway Church; Ted McNemar representing Teddy’s Treats; Marisa Gaona representing the American Legion; Lee Ann Whitley and Kay Boolos representing Crawford Street United Methodist Church; representatives from The Tomato Place; Lee Carroll representing the Fostoria Neighborhood Association; Mark Weller representing the SC Service Commission; and Tommy Hughes and Eli Perez representing Tommy’s BBQ. Individuals contributing included Bill and Sue Seratt; Beth Palmer; William Furlong; Shelley Tingle; Karen and David Moore; Phyllis Crain; Robyn Lorfink; JR and Alissa Armstrong; Ian Knight; Mallory and Luke Hughes; Daniel Renfroe; Natalie Barker; Bill Justice; Ted McNemar; Mike Marshall; Cindy and Pierre Thrana; Vicksburg Young Professionals Steven Bailey, Allison Scates and Nia Hurst; Donna Gray; John Schweikart; and Justin Hamilton, among others.
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