Energy Express kicked off its 21st year with training at the civic center in Charleston June 15, where more than 500 AmeriCorps members participated in getting ready for another wonderful summer of exciting fun with children and communities throughout West Virginia. Each pledging to “get things done” this summer.
Participates at the Marlinton Energy Express site include Site Coordinator Ellen Fortney returning for her fourth year, and first year Community Coordinator Anita Workman. Mentors are Shonda Carr, returning for her third year; Danielle Stuart and Trisha Circosta, each returning for their second year; Amanda Gibson, who has been an energy express volunteer for the past three years; and Katlyn Goins, who is new to the area and will take on the position of Special Ed teacher at Marlinton Elementary School for the 2015/2016 school year.
Energy Express is an award winning six-week program under the leadership of the WVU Extension Service that provides nutritious meals and reading-focused educational programming to children, grades kindergarten through fifth. The program demonstrates that most children enrolled in Energy Express maintain reading competency, with more than 60 percent improving their scores.
College students and community members were recruited to serve as Ameri- Corps members for the program. During training the members attended classes on creating a print-rich environment, providing noncompetitive recreation, guiding children’s behavior and developing community service projects.
As the program gets underway, our local site at the Marlinton Elementary School is looking forward to working with community volunteers who donate their time to read one-on-one with a child, help serve meals, and/or donate supplies.
Items needed: egg cartons, paper grocery bags, paper tubes, plastic containers, empty cereal boxes, magazines, buttons and beads, yarn, fabrics, socks, foam meat trays, old sheets, etc.
Volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Support from local residents is a vital component to the success of this program.
If you would like to volunteer or want to know more about the program, contact our community coordinator, Anita Workman, at the Marlinton site at 304-799-6551 ext. 2238 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
