Boddorf through Hart.
Gary Boddorf
21
Hometown/State: Davenport, Iowa
VISTA job: Assessing
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?“This is a new opportunity. I've never done anything like this before."
Mary Jo Boddorf 19 Hometown/State: Davenport, Iowa19 VISTA job: Assessing Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery? To help and gain good experience while doing community service, and earn money for college tuition. Victoria Bohler 25 Hometown/State: Germantown, Maryland VISTA job: Mucking Being a mucker means stepping outside of her comfort zone "in the biggest way of my life." Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery? She had just graduated from a masters program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and realized that she wouldn't be able to give this much time to community effort once she joined the working world. "I think it's really important to give back to your country." 
NA
Jasmin Bongiorno
21
Hometown/State: Champaign, Illinois
VISTA job: Mucking, city newsletter distribution, helping out in the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She was inspired by news reports of people assisting in Iowa with flood recovery.
"I wanted to be one of those people." 
Cantana Boucher
58
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: A variety: answering United Way 2-1-1 calls and planning events in the Wellington Heights neighborhood.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“I thought I could be of some use to our city. We were impacted by the flood and we just want to give back. It just seemed like the right thing to do.”
Deb Calloway
42
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center answering phones and working at HACAP researching resources for children in flood-affected families.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She wanted to give something back.
"I had friends in the flood and I felt like I should help." 
Willa Campbell
23
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center reaching out to possible volunteer groups currently not participating.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She grew up in Cedar Rapids and had a desire to give something back to the community that gave her so much. It was a great two-month summer opportunity.
Shannon Conrad
29
Hometown/State: Walker, Iowa
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To help with flood recovery.
“I didn't really know what to expect. But, I'm really glad I get to help and hopefully I'm doing something good for the world."
Wilson “Jay” Davis
24
Hometown/State: Keokuk, Iowa
VISTA job: Mucking, team lead
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
He thought it would be a good use of his skills.
Melissa Dawson
26
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center phones
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To give back to the community and gain experience for her resume.
Originally, she had been assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed to work on housing issues.
Shane Dunphy
22
Hometown/State: Wilton, Iowa
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center data entry and gathering statistics
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“I like to make a difference. I had worked with animals and children, and this was an opportunity to work with adults."
Stacy Edwards
22
Hometown/State: Iowa City, Iowa
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Driving through town she saw how bad the flooding was and wanted to help.
Chelsea Feeny
24
Hometown/State: Mount Vernon, Iowa
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To gain disaster relief experience.
When tsunamis hit other parts of the world, she decided to do natural disaster relief. "Unfortunately my work came a little closer to home."
NA
Carolin Fennern
24
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center data entry and graphic design
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
For the experience.
Julia Eden Glazer
21
Hometown/State: Jersey City, New Jersey
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She was in between schools and wanted to do something with her summer.
"I wanted to do something active with my summer and I thought it would be good experience."
Katie Graham
21
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center co-coordinator and official blogger
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She grew up in Cedar Rapids and wanted to help the community during what is likely the last time she'll ever live in Cedar Rapids.
She had originally been assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed. 
Amanda Green
32
Hometown/State: Marion, Iowa
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center, with a focus on public health
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“I thought it would be an opportunity to network with people who have similar interests."
Rhett Harris
22
Hometown/State: Edwardsville, Illinois
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“It's always been something I've wanted to do. I finished school and had the opportunity, so I took it." 
Michelle "Ruth" Hart
42
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center miscellaneous
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
I got involved with Flood2008.org and decided to do something more long term.
O'Donnell through Zemlick.
Ryan O'Donnell
25
Hometown/State: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To help out the good folks of Cedar Rapids.
He checked out VISTA opportunities and found the two-month opportunity.
"Direct service seemed kind of cool."
Theresa "Tess" Rochford
19
Hometown/State: Sumner, Iowa
VISTA job: Assisting the Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator with office tasks.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
For the experience.
Alice Rogers
61
Hometown/State: Marion, Iowa
VISTA job: Staffing Wellington Heights Neighborhood Resource Center
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She had been a VISTA for two years and hadn't found anything else she was interested in pursuing. She wanted to stay involved in the Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed neighborhoods.
Originally assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed, she continued her work in the neighborhood resource center.
Christina Roth
19
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
When her city was devastated by flooding, she originally worked with the Red Cross. She signed up to be a VISTA to continue to help people.
She has never worked harder.
"It's very, very tiring but it's very fun. You just go and go and go and go and go, then you sleep. Everything tastes better when you're exhausted.”
Thelma Rutherford
58
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center scheduling for volunteers and homeowners.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“To help my community and to get some idea of what is out there to help the community.”
Originally assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed, hoping to work on public health.
John Schneider
22
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To help with the flood.
Tye Schulke
22
Hometown/State: Minnesota
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
He is interested in how nonprofit organizations work in conjunction with the government.
Lesley Shafer
24
Hometown/State: Iowa City, Iowa
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center scheduling and paperwork
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She had a prosecutorial internship with Linn County Attorney's Office but when the docket got canceled, she looked for another way to help.
Cassandra Smith
22
Hometown/State: Washington State
VISTA job: Mucking and assessing
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She was finished with school and wanted a summer experience.
Peyton Smith
25
Hometown/State: Fayetteville, Georgia
VISTA job: Assessing needs
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She visited family in the area and saw the flooding. When she learned of the VISTA opportunity, she decided to come back and help.
Christian Sogaard
20
Hometown/State: Dubuque, Iowa
VISTA job: Mucking, team lead
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
It was better than his other summer job options, such as selling knives.
“I didn't really expect anything. I just wanted to see what it's like. It changes every day because it's disaster recovery and that's not a smooth process."
Leslie Thomas
43
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Leading health and safety training for volunteer groups and non-VISTA groups and gathering information for VISTAs about obtaining medical care.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
After seeing broadcast media reports about the flood and people with immediate needs, such as safety during cleanup, she decided to help.
Jenna Trachta
19
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Mucking; warehouse inventory and assembly
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To help out the community and gain experience.
"I thought it would be a fun experience, and a way to meet new people."
Jennifer Urban
19
Hometown/State: Davenport, Iowa
VISTA job: Assessing
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To get good experience and to help out.
Ben Vermie
20
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“I have no excuse not to."
He saw the devastation five blocks from his apartment and said it's good to give back.
Kristin Weber
22
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Something different every day.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She thought it would be good experience, a networking opportunity and a resume builder.
Originally, she had been assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed, to work in the Mound View neighborhood at Echo Hill, in the clothing closet, serving noon meals and working with Partnership for Safe Families.
Brittany Zemlick
24
Hometown/State: San Diego, California
VISTA job:
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She had been to a service learning conference and was trying to figure out what to do next. Her short-term job was to end mid-summer.
"It seemed right."
Her mother grew up in Cedar Rapids. She had helped with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita during college and enjoyed the people and what they were doing.
Heitz through O'Connell.
Jennifer Heitz
33
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Public health liaison; training and inventory
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She wanted to help the community she's from, gain work experience, build her resume and meet people.
She originally was assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed as a public health liaison.
Kaleigh Hire
20
Hometown/State: Bryan, Ohio
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“Foremost to pay my respects to the power of Mother Nature.”
Also, to help people affected and have an experience with a lot of people from different backgrounds.
Brandi Holten
22
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center coordinating out-of-state volunteer groups.
Jeremey Horan
27
Hometown/State: Buffalo, New York
VISTA job: Hands On Disaster Response site, coordinating volunteer groups and more.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
He has volunteered with Hands On Disaster Response on several other projects and knew the group would be in Iowa. Through contacts he learned of a way to get paid through AmeriCorps VISTA.
Ron Jackson
48
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center co-coordinator
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
He was changing careers from private to public sector to focus on nonprofit. He wanted to to reconnect with the community
He originally was assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed to assist Matthew 25 Ministry Hub in developing a marketing plan.
NA
Samantha "Sam" Jacobo
19
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Video recording
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She saw the devastation in Cedar Rapids and wanted to create a record of it.
Amy Kellett
21
Hometown/State: Salem, New Hampshire
VISTA job: Assessing and mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She saw the devastation on the national news and wanted to help.
Tiffany Kelley
37
Hometown/State: Branson, Missouri
VISTA job: Hands On Disaster Response site helping to coordinate volunteers, assess work sites and some mucking and gutting.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She was going to be here anyway helping with long-term flood recovery. This seemed like a good opportunity to be with AmeriCorps VISTA and Hands On Disaster Response at the same time.
Edith Kendall
44
Hometown/State: Marion, Iowa
VISTA job: Coordinating the free lunch program at Sharon United Church, where 20-25 guests eat each day. She has also been assisting flood victims with IRS tax issues.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To assist with flood recovery.
Andrew Kerr
26
Hometown/State: North Carolina
VISTA job: Hands On Disaster Response, Cedar Rapids site, cooking breakfast for the group, coordinating volunteer groups, mucking and gutting, scouting and assessing. He even painted the semi trailer that the group uses as an office.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
He had previously volunteered with Hands on Disaster Response and wanted to volunteer through October. Becoming a VISTA for two months and receiving a monthly living allowance made it easier.
Joseph Lasko
20
Hometown/State: Lakeville, Minnesota
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
His grandparents live in Cedar Rapids
Angela Lindaman
23
Hometown/State: Vinton, Iowa
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center scheduling
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
For the experience, it was something different.
She had originally been assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed in the Mound View neighborhood, helping with the clothing closet, free noon meals and Partnership for Safe Families.
Elie Lowenfeld
21
Hometown/State: New York City
VISTA job: Mucking, team lead
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
It's an opportunity for rebuilding and strengthening a city.
“It's almost exactly what I expected -- nothing surprises me."
Christine Marcotte
24
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: It changes daily. For a couple weeks, she has been helping flood-affected families find child care and helping flood-affected child care centers.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To help with flood relief.
Natalie Masci
18
Hometown/State: Bedford, New Hampshire
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“I thought I would be a good addition to the Iowa flood recovery team. I'm hardworking and I don't mind getting dirty."
She is taking a year off before I go to college, and hopes the position leads to other work with AmeriCorps.
Angela Meisterling
22
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Assisting Leslie Wright, director of community impact United Way of East Central Iowa, helping to build a long-term area flood recovery coalition.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She was volunteering around the community during and after the flood and wanted to keep volunteering.
"I wanted to have steady volunteer work every day for the rest of the summer."
Ivan Michel
23
Hometown/State: Jersey City, New Jersey
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center and mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
He had the time, and wanted to work or volunteer for a good cause.
Alan Moore
30
Hometown/State: Storm Lake, Iowa
VISTA job: Collecting data on calls at the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center, number of hours matched with volunteers, etc, for FEMA; tracking equipment.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
There was a need and I wanted to do my part.
It's been busy.
"Everybody has a positive attitude and is ready to roll up their sleeves and get what needs to be done, done."
Larissa Norris
30
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center finding financial resources for flood-affected residents; answering phones.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She lost her job due to flooding and wanted to do a VISTA program for the experience.
"I wanted to help the community that helped me get back on my feet."
Sabrina O'Connell
Hometown/State: Arizona
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center answering phones, helping with housing and walk-in needs.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She feels good about helping people.
“I go home every night knowing that I helped people. I'm in my element."
She and her husband are in Iowa this summer to be near a son, who had recently returned from Iraq.
