The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA program places corps members at universities to connect campus resources with community needs and help non-profits address poverty. At the University of Findlay, the VISTA member has helped local food pantries and Habitat for Humanity by creating operating manuals, updating procedures, and initiating community engagement efforts. Through these partnerships, over 1,900 students have provided nearly 6,000 hours of service valued at $119,000 to address issues like affordable housing, food access, and homelessness in the surrounding community.

1. Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report: The University of Findlay
Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA strategically connects college resources with communities in need. Corps members gain
valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
Northwest Ohio has been especially hard hit by the recession Poverty Alleviation Focus Area:
and continues to lead much of the state in unemployment Affordable Housing & Food Access
numbers in the double digits. Heavy job cuts in the manufac-
turing sector and many employers moving fulltime employees For more information contact:
to part-time status has created a growing pool of underem- VISTA Corps member: Gwen Stembridge
ployed workers struggling to make ends meet. Access to the (419) 434-4462 • stembridge@findlay.edu
basic necessities of food and housing have become more diffi- Site Supervisor: Crystal Weitz
cult as many middle-income families are now having to make (419) 434-6671 campuscompact@findlay.edu
challenging decisions and rely on support from service agen-
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
cies that are already stretched thin. The University of Findlay,
Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lesha.farias@gmail.com
with a strong tradition of service and community engagement,
has been able to work with Ohio Campus Compact to receive
www.ohiocampuscompact.org
a yearly-granted AmeriCorps VISTA position for 8 years to
build capacity and sustainability in the service initiatives in non “The VISTA program through
-profits in Findlay. This school year, the VISTA was able to Ohio Campus Compact has
work closely with Chopin Hall, a local grassroots food pantry,
allowed The University of
to create an operating manual and update volunteer proce-
Findlay to build capacity in
dures. With Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County,
efforts to involve students in a
the VISTA initiated a speakers bureau to engage the commu-
nity in new ways and find new sources of funding. The unique wide variety of poverty allevia-
position of an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA on tion initiatives. I realize how
and off campus serves as an initiator for poverty alleviation essential this work is when
efforts where, now and in the future, it can make a world of students come to me asking
when the next opportunity is
difference.
to serve at a Chopin Hall Mo-
“The need for affordable bile Food Pantry or if I will
housing is especially great work with them to hold a fur-
in Findlay/Hancock County niture drive to benefit Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. Students are
where nearly 4,000 homes learning essential skills like how to interact with others, how to or-
were damaged by fast- ganize and lead others, and how to be aware of and act on commu-
rising water during the nity needs. When I hear about alumni who have chosen to make phi-
devastating floods of 2007- lanthropy and service part of their post-college and professional life,
2008 and since there have especially those whose education has led them to positions of much
been over 300 foreclosed influence, I know the impact of
and abandoned homes annually. Partnership with the VISTAs here at UF is far-reaching
VISTA to manage this process is invaluable – to engage the and long-lasting. The students
local public, church community and University stu- are excited about learning in
dents. We are extremely grateful, and feel both Habitat new ways and non-profits are
and those offered the opportunity to serve benefit greatly able to build capacity by working
from this partnership.” with these young, innovative, and
-Wendy McCormick, Executive Director creative students. A win-win
situation!” -Gwen Stembridge,
Ohio Campus Compact Ameri-
Corps VISTA at The University of Findlay 2010-2011

2. COMMUNITY IMPACT The VISTA Impact
As a partner in the community’s efforts to alleviate poverty, The
by the numbers:
University of Findlay has actively engaged students in the work of access
to food, affordable housing efforts, serving individuals experiencing VISTA Impact-The University of Findlay
homelessness, and much more in the Findlay/Hancock County commu-
nity. The presence of an AmeriCorps VISTA in the Campus Compact Community Partners Served 50 Partners
Center for Service and Learning at UF has been an essential resource Pounds of Food Collected/ 56,000 lbs
for The University and the surrounding community. Distributed by Students
The VISTA’s presence 5 hours/week with Chopin Hall, a local
Students engaged in community 76 Students
grassroots food pantry, gives the university a unique opportunity to be-
housing efforts
come aware of community needs surrounding food access and to ad-
dress them directly. For example, the VISTA was able to bring a Student participants in service as 1,906 Students
speaker to campus who had benefited from Chopin Hall’s food distribu- part of classroom work
tion to educate students about the need for access to food by sharing Instances of Student Service 1,047 Instances
her personal experience. Student Service Hours 5,583 Hours
Though The University of Findlay already has a strong partner-
ship with Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County, the partner- Monetary Value of student work $119,252.88
ship has grown through new avenues with the VISTA’s creation of a to Non-Profit Organizations*
speakers bureau to further educate the community about housing
needs. Further connections with student volunteers have allowed Habitat for Hu- *from www.independentsector.org
manity to build capacity in their ability to serve families in Hancock County.
On campus at The University of Findlay, the community-based VISTA position “The VISTA’s work with students con-
brings a different perspective to conversations with faculty, staff, administration, and tributed in meaningful and measurable
students, advocating for non-profit organizations and promoting institutional commit- ways toward increased awareness and
renewed action through poverty allevia-
ment to civic engagement in diverse and creative ways.
tion efforts in the Findlay/Hancock
CAMPUS IMPACT County community.”
For 7 years, The University of Findlay has greatly -Marie A. Louden-Hanes, Ph.D.
benefitted from the presence of an Ohio Campus Com- Dean of Undergraduate Education
pact AmeriCorps VISTA to connect students, faculty, The University of Findlay
and staff to service initiatives in the community. As a
community-based position at The University of Findlay, About Ohio Campus Compact
the VISTA is able to keep an ear to the ground for com- AmeriCorps*VISTA
munity needs and help to fill those needs by educating individuals, classes, and groups
and then connecting them to educational service opportunities with the community Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
partners we serve. One of the ways students engage in the community is through coalition of colleges and university presidents and
individual and student group volunteering. With an awareness and understanding of their campuses working to promote the civic pur-
community needs, the VISTA was able to connect student organizations directly to poses of higher education. Ohio Campus Compact
community partners that would benefit from the students’ skills and passions. This provides resources, services & partnerships to help
year, the VISTA connected student groups with 15 specific service projects to meet Ohio campuses deepen their ability to educate
community needs expressed by poverty-alleviating non-profits. Another way the students for civic and social responsibility and to
VISTA serves as a point of contact between the university and the community is improve community life.
through Academic Service-Learning. This year, students learned through class presen-
tations about poverty from the VISTA, experiential learn- AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
ing by serving with a Mobile Food Pantry and an Emer- designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and in-
gency Homeless Shelter, and reflection using student
corporated into the AmeriCorps network of pro-
critical thinking skills and motivating them to take action.
grams in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in
the fight against poverty in America for more than
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: 40 years.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
The University of Findlay is fortunate to have been VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
granted a VISTA for the 2011-2012 year. This VISTA will be able to build on the create and expand programs designed to bring
work of the past 7 VISTAs but also work toward institutionalization of the programs individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
and initiatives that are already thriving. The VISTA position has been an integral part serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
of the civic engagement work of the UF Campus Compact Center for Service and tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
Learning. In part due to the great work already done by this center, The University of homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
Findlay has made a goal of integrating service into every student’s learning experience. services, public health and college access. More
This recognition of and commitment to continuing student service opportunities is a information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org
great accomplishment for The University of Findlay and offers great hope to commu-
nity partners who have come to count on excellent service from these students.