Cuts to the AmeriCorps program are gutting an organization that serves children and the community at large in Washington.

 

                     State leaders protest cuts to AmeriCorps programs

DOGE cuts decimate youth program in rural Snohomish County, Washington

Cuts to the AmeriCorps program are gutting an organization that serves children and the community at large in Darrington.

"It's sad that it has come to this," he said.

The institute takes local kids and involves them in outdoor activities. The youth also perform acts of service across the underserved eastern Snohomish County town of Darrington.

Since the nonprofit started 11 years ago it has serviced 3,000 programs with 100,000 hours of work -- everything from planting gardens and maintaining trails to working with people in low-income housing and providing after school care. The institute provides youth opportunities to explore worlds outside their remote rural community.

"We're seeing kids just light up and want to pursue careers in the outdoors or they're awakening things they want to do in their lives to realize their potential," said Rankin.

But a $50,000 cut from the organization's AmeriCorps funding threatens to shut all of its programming down.

"My fear is GPI will go away and there will be no other opportunities to build a future here," worries Rankin.

Glacier Peak Institute was born from the aftermath of the 2014 Oso landslide which killed 43 people and remains the deadliest landslide in American history. Townspeople seized the opportunity to make their community stronger, more resilient, and to provide a sense of hope and belonging for their children. 

It's a concept they'll have to double down on as the cuts take effect.

"It's just basically cutting off avenues for these kids in this community to thrive," said Adrienne Hall of the Darrington Food Bank.

The food bank is one of the main recipients of the institute's community outreach.

It is seeing unprecedented demand -- a demand that is expected to grow with federal funding cuts targeting programs for the poor.

This comes as rising costs have pushed donations down.

With program cuts at the institute, there will be fewer hands to help out.

"So, when these sort of cuts happen it's an immediate ripple through the whole community," said Hall.

A fundraiser for the organization is scheduled for May 6 in Seattle.

As they look for new funding, GPI, an organization built on grit, will see that toughness tested Rankin said there are no plans to give up.

"My mindset is how do we remain resilient and how do we pivot so we can keep going in offering this."

Americorp: See this LINK to read about there great work.

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