Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA) understands that recent news and rumors regarding funding cuts to AmeriCorps and other programs may be causing concern within our community. We want to assure our current and prospective participants, partners, and supporters that AFNHA remains fully operational and committed to its mission.
We are aware of some specific programs that have been cut in West Virginia. While changes are occurring at the state and national level, we want to be clear that our local operations have not been affected at this time. We are in regular communication with our funding agencies and are actively working to understand the implications for West Virginia organizations.
Our priority is the well-being and success of our participants. We understand that uncertainty can be unsettling, and we want to emphasize our unwavering dedication to providing full support to our Partner Sites and AmeriCorps members. Our track record of support to the central Appalachian forest - its history, culture, natural resources, and forest heritage - speaks to our stability and effectiveness. We will maintain our focus on cultural heritage, conservation, and tourism to support rural community development in western Maryland and the highlands of West Virginia.
We encourage individuals to rely on official communications from AFNHA for accurate information about our programs. We are committed to transparency and will communicate directly with our stakeholders should any changes occur that impact our local operations.
In the meantime, we are enthusiastically continuing our recruitment efforts and look forward to welcoming new Site Partners and AmeriCorps members who will benefit from the opportunities our programs provide. And we are currently exploring how we as an organization can support related projects within our region that have been disrupted. We believe in the power of partnerships and communication across geographic lines and interest areas, with diverse and open participation, and remain confident in our ability to deliver on our promises.
We appreciate the continued trust and support of our community. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at (304) 636-6182, or afnha@afnha.org.
Take Action:
Contact your Members of Congress by email or phone using the outreach tools provided by Voices for National Service, or contribute your service year story to help showcase why we need AmeriCorps.
Donate to the national emergency assistance fund for AmeriCorps members
Related Links:
Learn more about our individual AmeriCorps members and how they are serving their sites and communities. In our 2023-24 member service year, we supported 34 AmeriCorps members at 20 organizations whose sites, programs, and activities were visited by 39,860 individuals. These members delivered educational programs to an audience of over 5,000 individuals, treated and improved 1,052 acres of public land, and managed 1,501 hours of volunteer service.
In 2024, AmeriCorps programs produced federal funding and local project support totalling $31,089,477 in Maryland and $20,808,549 in West Virginia.
Follow America’s Service Commissions and Service Year for the latest news and updates.
