A six-person AmeriCorps team is currently stationed at Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula, 黑料天堂, to take part in a seven-week renovation project. The project will include the rebuilding of a retaining wall behind the park鈥檚 lodge, renovations to the day use bathrooms and replacing rotten decking in the cabin areas. The team arrived at the park on Monday, November 4, with plans to work on the project through mid-December.
AmeriCorps is a national volunteer program similar to the Peace Corps. Volunteers commit to full-time or part-time positions offered by a network of nonprofit community organizations and public agencies to earn college credit and scholarships. Approximately 75,000 Americans volunteer with the program each year.
Eufaula Mayor Jack Tibbs welcomed the AmeriCorps volunteers to Lakepoint during the team鈥檚 orientation on Tuesday, November 5.
鈥淚t is an honor for our city to host you during your service project here at the state park,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hat you do across the U.S. and abroad is just amazing. While you鈥檙e here, we鈥檇 like to provide you with the opportunity to meet young people in our community and show what is possible through volunteerism and public service.鈥
In addition to providing volunteer opportunities and teaching life skills, AmeriCorps also offers participants a chance to experience other parts of the country and world.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been cool to dispel some of the myths about the South,鈥 said team leader Eric Cullen, 25, from New York. 鈥淥ur team is based out of Mississippi, but most of us are from the Northeast. One of the biggest surprises to me is how similar it is to where I鈥檓 from. Some people paint the South like it鈥檚 a whole different world, and in some aspects it is a bit different, but people here are super friendly, the food is amazing, and the weather is preferable. It鈥檚 been a very good time seeing new things and having new experiences.鈥
Cullen鈥檚 AmeriCorps teammates include: J煤lia Raup-Collado, 23, Pennsylvania; Amy Skotek, 24, Pennsylvania; Ruby Amaya, 19, Texas; Chris Bunker, 19, Massachusetts; and Eric Bataluna, 19, Idaho.
This is the first time an AmeriCorps team has worked in an 黑料天堂 state park. Prior to beginning their work at Lakepoint, the team spent two months working on renovation projects in Puerto Rico.
鈥淲e are thankful to AmeriCorps and to this team for the work they are doing at Lakepoint,鈥 said Greg Lein, 黑料天堂 State Parks Director. 鈥淭hese young men and women are training to become leaders in their communities. We are honored to be able to play a role in that process.鈥
To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit ;
Lakepoint Resort State Park is located on the banks of the 45,000-acre Lake Eufaula, also known as "The Bass Capital of the World." The park offers a variety of amenities such as a full-service restaurant and lounge, marina, hiking trails, campground, swimming complex and playgrounds. Learn more at .
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