Lakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana Welcomes 8th AmeriCorps NCCC Team

LARRILakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana (LARRI) is thrilled to welcome the eighth AmeriCorps NCCC team to Northwest Indiana to help restore the homes and lives of those affected by the floods in 2008.

The Porter County United Way has been instrumental in helping and supporting the AmeriCorps teams that LARRI has worked with. Sharon Kish, President of the Porter County United Way, feels that the AmeriCorps NCC teams are a tremendous asset not only to the work being done by LARRI, but to the entire Northwest Indiana region. “We are just very fortunate to be chosen as a site. These teams could go anywhere else in the nation, but they choose to come here, since there is such a need. The AmeriCorps NCC teams are young, energetic, and eager to learn new skills. They are great at adapting to whatever projects that we present them with,” says Kish. “The skills and perspective that these young adults bring with them have truly enriched our communities. My greatest hope is that some of the team members with decide to come back and make Northwest Indiana their home.”

Jane Delligatti, Director for LARRI, feels that “By hosting teams of youth such as the AmeriCorps NCC, it allows for LARRI to help not only the local residents that are still recovering from the floods, but gives the organization national reach, as we are giving the young people in the teams the opportunity to fulfill their goals of learning new skills and growth through service.”

AmeriCorps NCCC teams have touched 163 homes in Northwest Indiana, helping to hang drywall, paint, remove water, move furniture and appliances, remove and install insulation, hang doors, install fencing, and remove debris - 15,920 pounds of debris (almost 8 tons!) have been removed through their efforts.

LARRI’s work is made possible by a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. funded through the Indiana Association of United Ways and the United Ways of Northwest Indiana.