Keystone SMILES Welcomes AmeriCorps Class XXXII
Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, McKean, Mercer, Venango Counties
Keystone SMILES has been hard at work enrolling new AmeriCorps members for the 2025-2026 program year!To date, we have welcomed 74 members across 15 partner sites. To ensure our new members are well-prepared for their service, we've conducted seven Pre-Service Orientations. Each orientation features a dynamic one-day interactive virtual session led by Keystone SMILES staff, along with an additional 16 hours of online training. Topics covered include CPR/First Aid, Mandated Reporting, Certified Emergency Response, AmeriCorps 101, and more. We are excited to see the amazing stories and positive impacts our XXXII AmeriCorps Class will achieve this year. Stay tuned for updates as our members make a difference in their communities!
In September's Newsletter
9/11 DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBERANCE
Clarion, Erie, and Mercer Counties
AmeriCorps members honored the anniversary of 9/11 through a variety of service activities, doing their part to kindle the spirit of unity that brought Americans together in the days following the 9/11 tragedy.
“We put up flags on a school area that is commonly used to raise awareness and remember those who were brave and who sacrificed themselves to save others on 9/11. We also had a moment of silence school-wide to acknowledge the families who were affected by this event.”
--AmeriCorps Member, Heavenlily Trelease, Fairview School District Youth Corps
FRONT STREET - OIL CITY
Venango County
In Oil City the team just removed concrete steps at the house they have been renovating for a future family home. This house was donated by the City of Oil City and has been used as a training center teaching members from several program years many new and useful skills such as: to new plumbing, wiring, flooring, drywall repair, painting and heating system.
POLK RAMP PROJECT
Venango County
In October the AmeriCorps House of Trades team collaborated with Mustard Seed Ministries, Franklin, PA to build a paver ramp project for a person in need in the Polk community. This consisted of first digging and leveling the ground, hauling and shoveling gravel and laying cement pavers. This project took approximately 3 ½ days to complete.
CLARION COMMUNITY ROOM PROJECT
Clarion County
Keystone SMILES AmeriCorps will be collaborating with the Clarion County Housing Authority for their next community service project. This will include framing walls and hanging drywall amongst other trade skills training. At this time the team is preparing for the project by studying and planning with the blueprints provided by architects. The project is set to start in November through the winter months.
KNOX COMMUNITY LIGHT UP NIGHT PREPARTIONS
Clarion County
Preparations are underway for The Knox annual Light Up Night and Once Upon a Christmas events which takes place the Friday before Thanksgiving each year. This year, Light Up Night will be November 21 from 6 pm -8:00 pm. The House of Trades are busy fluffing trees, building floats and games that the Knox businesses and family members will enjoy this Holiday season. s t The event will host games, snacks, craft-making stations, a parade, and a variety of businesses and community agencies.
COMMUNITY/SENIOR BRUNCH
Clarion County
This program year, the House of Trades AmeriCorps members will be hosting the Community/Senior monthly breakfast and fundraising for the 2026 Horsethief Bingo event. They cook breakfast, and serve breakfast for a minimal cost of $3 and call bingo for the attendees in the Knox and surrounding communities. All bingo proceeds are donated to the Horsethief Committee. This event is held on the 3 Wednesday of the month. This event provides the AmeriCorps members the opportunity to serve their community in an alternative service opportunity integrating culinary skills with interpersonal relationship building as part of their team leadership curriculum.
The event also is highlighted by the Keystone SMILES preschool children providing entertainment with songs and favors as a service-learning curriculum.
