OSWEGO – Ashley Finch, an AmeriCorp member working at Camp Foundations, recently held a food drive during Oswego Little League Junior games, at the recently refurbished Legends Fields.
The food drive was held to collect non-perishable donations for the Oswego Human Concerns Center, as part of her community project to give back to Oswego County. As an AmeriCorp member, Finch chose to hold a food drive at Legends Fields on July 21 during the Oswego Little League Juniors (13-14), games, where multiple teams play on the six fields simultaneously.
The league starting playing two months later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a shortened session. The league has worked hard to put proper precautions in place in order to prevent the spread of the virus. For example, players are all required to have their temperatures checked before entering Legends Fields, as well as wear face coverings.
Parents and spectators must social distance themselves by family households and are not permitted to be close to the field as they had been during past seasons. Overall, the setting and location provided a great opportunity for Finch to reach many players, parents, and spectators in one location to conduct her food drive AmeriCorp members often serve at school, libraries, recreation programs, and human services agencies throughout Oswego County.
AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across America. The Oswego County AmeriCorps Program focuses on service for children and families. Members provide fitness and nutrition education activities for youths, manage volunteers, and provided housing for economically disadvantaged individuals.
Finch, who graduated this June from Oswego High School has been working as a junior counselor during the summer at Camp Foundations. She works with campers daily to educate them through fitness fun age-appropriate activities, such as an obstacle course, soccer, hockey, and relay races.
As an AmeriCorp she has also had the opportunity to gain career skills while receiving a modest living allowance and earning an education award to help her pay for college. Finch will be leaving in August, to attend Paul Smith College in the Adirondacks and plans to major Recreation, Adventure Education, and Leisure Management.
This will a great opportunity to use her recent experience with AmeriCorps, while she learns how to work with diverse groups of people to design and deliver recreational experiences.
