Enthusiasm for service in America is at an all time high. This New York Time's graphic shows the huge increase in applications to Americorp over this time last year.
According to the AmeriCorps' press release:
Many of these applicants will be able to serve due to the recently passed Edward M Kennedy Serve America Act. The Act grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. These new service opportunities will include the expansion of existing service programs, like AmeriCorps, as well as four new service corps focused on education, health care, energy and veterans. All service programs established under the bill will be overseen by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
According to the AmeriCorps' press release:
AmeriCorps is experiencing a significant surge of applications. Last month, AmeriCorps received 17,038 online applications, nearly triple the 6,770 received in March 2008. In the past five months, AmeriCorps received 48,520 online applications, up 234 percent over the 14,532 that came in during the same five month period a year ago. Many volunteer centers and nonprofit groups are also reporting a “compassion boom” of increased numbers of volunteers.Learn more about the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
