Today's post comes from our CEO of Points of Light Institute, Michelle Nunn.

Our nation is struggling in the face of challenges unprecedented in size and scope. A growing number of individuals – including middle-class Americans - need food, shelter, healthcare, job training and educational support.

Each time America is faced with a crisis, the programs supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service are the first to respond—from hurricanes to earthquakes, from fires to economic depression. Americorps, Senior Corps and the Volunteer Generation Fund have proven to be able to serve us in times of critical need.

Now is not the time to cut these cost-effective initiatives that provide solutions to challenges facing communities across the country. Service not only helps the people directly affected, it uplifts the nation as a whole.

If these programs are cut or eliminated, our nation will feel the impact:

• More than three million at-risk children will not get instructional support from citizens serving through programs such as Teach For America, City Year and Citizen Schools
• More than 10,000 pre-school students served by Jumpstart tutors will not start school ready to read
• More than 620,000 frail seniors and the disabled served by Senior Companions and RSVP will lose in-home support, forcing them to turn to expensive institutional care
• More than 745,000 medically underserved children and adults will not receive health outreach, education and immunizations from Community HealthCorps members
• More than 4,500 families will be forced to live in substandard housing, rather than Habitat for Humanity homes

Communities across America cannot afford to lose these invaluable resources.

I hope that many of you will join the Save Service efforts on August 10 to meet with members of Congress while they are in their home districts to tell them your stories of volunteer service.  A call-in day will be held on September 15 to reinforce our message. Please urge your members of Congressto support the Corporation for National and Community Service and the full range of service and volunteer programs that make a difference every day in American communities.

Yours in service,

    Michelle Nunn CEO, Points of Light Institute