It was 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15. AmeriCorps volunteers were cleaning up and saying goodbye to the homeowners in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of Philadelphia that had been damaged by Hurricane Ida. As the day drew to a close, one group finished cutting trim and stacked it neatly in a pile. Others were applying a final layer of spackle when an unexpected email stopped them in their tracks: Due to DOGE budget cuts, AmeriCorps was demobilizing all members. They were instructed to return to the church where they were being housed, pack up their belongings, and leave the next morning. 

Denise Shelton, Disaster Response Director for EPA, was present when the volunteers received the shocking news. “We actually hung out front,” she said. “AmeriCorps members were walking up and down the sidewalk, processing the trauma that had just happened. The survivors noticed and asked us, ‘What happened?’” When she realized that this would be the members’ last day, she asked to take a group photo.  

In an instant, the plans AmeriCorps volunteers had for the next seven months were completely upended. That evening, they had dinner with leaders from the Pennsylvania VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) to say goodbye, then departed for home. 

The trim they cut still stands in a neat pile. Walls still await a coat of paint. Siding is waiting to be installed—but there are no hands to do it. A pile of debris still sits in the living room of one homeowner. 

The AmeriCorps volunteers were supposed to stay for another week—plenty of time to finish the projects they had begun and then some—but Executive Order 1422 put a stop to it. The executive order impacts not only these particular disaster survivors, but also everyone still waiting for help. The Pennsylvania VOAD had anticipated receiving a second deployment of volunteers later in the summer, but now the work will be delayed. While this is disappointing for VOAD members, it is even more devastating for the homeowners who have already waited over three years for their homes to be repaired from the damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021. 

That impact leaves Shelton frustrated. “They’ve waited so long, they’ve waited so long. We had a couple of homes we were scheduled to go into, and now we have to say, ‘You need to wait longer.’ It’s heartbreaking.” 

The History and Impact of AmeriCorps 

AmeriCorps members don’t just help rebuild homes. They also run after-school programs, maintain trails in national parks, and more. The program functions as a domestic version of the Peace Corps and has engaged over five million Americans in community service. It’s designed to help communities address poverty, education, and other unmet human needs. 

It not only helps communities recover from disaster—it also develops new leaders. Shelton shared that when she posted on Facebook about the sudden end of the AmeriCorps program, her post was flooded with comments from former members who found the experience life-changing. “It was their first foray into these really amazing leadership roles that they now have, serving our community,” she said. 

Shelton explained that her contact in the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, as well as leaders from nonprofits across the country, all attribute their start to AmeriCorps. “You’re missing out on the opportunity to raise up a whole new generation of community and nonprofit leaders.” 

Hands Are Needed to Finish the Work 

While she grieves the loss of AmeriCorps, Shelton is clear-eyed about the work ahead. 
“We need volunteers to fill the gap. We are trying to wrap up all our projects by December.” 

United Methodists of EPA have committed to repairing homes in Strawberry Mansion, Yeadon, Carrol Park, Collegeville, and Glenside and need your help. No prior experience is necessary. “We can take volunteers of really any skill set. A willing heart is really all that’s needed,” Shelton said. 

Construction Project Manager Daniel is amazing at teaching and training volunteers and will ensure the work is done correctly and safely. You’ll even learn new skills you can apply in your own home or on a future service trip. 

Sign up today to volunteer as an individual or group.  Or visit the Disaster Recovery Table at Annual Conference to learn more.