Americans of all ages, backgrounds, levels of experience, and areas of interest serve their communities and the nation as Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps AmeriCorps members. Members who enter their term of service age 55+ also have a special opportunity to give their earned Segal Education Award to a child, grandchild, step-child, or step grand-child following the successful conclusion of their service. In 2023-2024, about 10% of the PMSC Corps entered service to get things done ages 55+. These members use their prior experiences and skills to impact their communities in incredible ways across the region. And, with open minds and willing hearts to enjoy life-long learning opportunities, older members also allow their service to enrich their own lives as well.
Mrs. Cyndi Shaffer serves the students and families of Hyndman Charter School in Hyndman, PA as a full-time PMSC AmeriCorps member this year. Eight months into her service year, lifelong Hyndman resident and community servant, Cyndi finds herself “especially proud to see the improvement in the children” that she serves each day—improvement in their attitudes toward school, in their test scores, and improvement in the communication skills. Using her prior experiences as a public servant in the postal service, as a tax collector, and as a certified nursing assistant, Mrs. Shaffer says that her service term is providing her with a sense of “purpose, additional income” and opportunities for “meeting fantastic people who have encouraged [her]” to be her very best.
The students affectionately call her “Aunt Cyndi,” and she has become a cherished member of the school community. Walking the halls of Hyndman with Cyndi, means lots of stops along the way for hugs and encouraging words. It is easy to see that she is a highly valued AmeriCorps member–indeed making her community healthier, stronger, and safer. As her term of national service draws to a close in June, Cyndi remains confident that she will “continue to encourage the students to learn;” and with a role-model like her, Aunt Cyndi is getting things done for Hyndman and for America.
Likewise, after a 50-year career in education, Mr. Dominic Demangone now takes his passion for history and lifelong learning, skills in management, and love of the outdoors into his role as a part-time Environmental Stewardship PMSC AmeriCorps member serving with Westmoreland Land Trust. Demangone reports, “In April 2023, I read a newspaper article describing the Westmoreland Land Trust purchase of the St. Xavier property for a nature preserve. Being an avid walker, I noticed walking trails were being planned on the site. I called the WLT and the Executive Director, Betsy Aiken, gave me permission to “start walking” at St. Xavier. I started walking that day!”
In the Fall of 2023, Westmoreland Land Trust applied to host a PMSC AmeriCorps member to strategically support environmental quality, ecological sustainability, wildlife habitat, recreation for well-being and health, protection of scenic, historic, and cultural resources, and to educate the public about community stewardship. It only made sense to Dominic that he should apply for this position– redefining any previous retirement plans and now committing to serve the community he cares so much about.
This Spring, Mr. Demangone is getting things done by maintaining trails, conducting critical research to educate Westmoreland’s residents, and engaging volunteers “who will help maintain the trails on a timely basis.” Utilizing his relationships with local schools and joy of teaching, now he is even “looking forward to inviting schools to plan field trips and other educational activities on site. The potential is there, and I am working to make it happen.” Thankful to serve as part of the team at Westmoreland Land Trust, Dominic Demangone is getting things done for Westmoreland, for Pennsylvania, and for America. As a 55+ aged member, he exemplifies what it means to take action, persevere, seek common ground, and bring out the very best of his community.
Mrs. Cyndi Shaffer and Mr. Dominic Demangone could have retired from their long careers as community servants to simply take it easy and relax, but these two PMSC AmeriCorps members and thousands of other 55+ aged members across the nation have decided that now is the time to give of themselves for the next generation of Americans. These selfless members show up in big ways for the children, youth, families, land and water of this great nation—exemplifying a spirit of service and a willingness to make lasting impact for future generations of leaders. Thank you, Cyndi and Dominic. Thank you to all 55+ AmeriCorps members across the county—getting things done to bring out the very best of America.