AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) summer associates and yearlong VISTAs with Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed began flood relief efforts in Cedar Rapids as soon as record flooding affected Linn and Johnson counties mid-June. Since June 16, 2008, dozens of additional VISTAs have been recruited and placed in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City as part of VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery.

Links to photo pages ...

September 9, NCCC members at St. Wenceslaus Church in Cedar Rapids.

September 9, final days, in the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center.

August 30, mowing, various sites in Cedar rapids.

August 30, more mowing, other sites throughout Cedar Rapids.

August 30, Catholic mow, parishioners gather to mow yards in Cedar Rapids.

August 30, Cornell College (Mount Vernon, Iowa) students do clean up and other chores in Cedar Rapids.

August 23, BRIGHTEN, neighborhood beautification in Cedar Rapids.

August 23, more BRIGHTEN, in Cedar Rapids.

August 23, Coe College students work day, in Cedar Rapids.

August 12, 2008, recognition ceremony, Cedar Rapids. About 70 AmeriCorps VISTA summer associates, yearlong members and Team Leaders were honored.

August 11, 2008, in the garden, Cedar Rapids. What's growing in the Wellington Heights Neighborhood community garden?

August 11, 2008, Hands On Disaster Response site at Cedar Hills Community Church, Cedar Rapids.

August 4, 2008, mucking, Cedar Rapids. Who are the Dirty Half Dozen? How does a mucker's day begin?

July 24, 2008, U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack visits a mucking site, Cedar Rapids.

July 21, 2008, mucking, Cedar Rapids.

July 18, 2008, East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center, Cedar Rapids.

July 17,2008, East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center, Cedar Rapids..

July 15, 2008, assessment in a northwest neighborhood, Cedar Rapids.

July 15, 2008, warehouse, Cedar Rapids.

July 10, 2008, The Housing Fellowship, Coralville.

June 25, 2008, Westdale Mall, Cedar Rapids.

June 21, 2008, Taylor Area Neighborhood Association (TANA) meeting, Cedar Rapids.

June 20, 2008, Taylor Area Neighborhood, which is part of Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed, Cedar Rapids.

What are AmeriCorps VISTAs doing
 in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City?

There's  more to flood recovery than mucking. AmeriCorps VISTA members staff the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center in Cedar Rapids. FYI they always have cookies ...



Sabrina O'Connell answers the phone at the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center. The call centers fields requests from homeowners needing assistance and volunteers hoping to help out.

But, of course, there is mucking ...
AmeriCorps VISTA summer associate Natalie Masci shows off a mucker's keen fashion sense while cleaning as part of a crew in southeast Cedar Rapids. Hand-me-down coveralls sport name tags from unknown workers.

Some AmeriCorps VISTAs with VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery were placed with area agencies and organizations working on the community flood recovery effort. VISTA summer associate Angela Meisterling used as her summer office a corner desk in the office of Leslie Wright, director of community impact at United Way of East Central Iowa. Angela worked as Leslie Wright's assistant.