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During her tenure as AmeriCorps VISTA in Washington County, Stacey Steed helped serve 100,000 meals--and that was just in one day.
Steed, who has been in the position under the direction of the Washington County Retired Seniors Volunteer Program since July 2016, is wrapping up her time in the county this month. While serving, she steered the Washington County Homeless Project, launched the Laundry Project to help those below the poverty line have access to clean clothes and assisted with events that distributed 50,000 and later 100,000 meals to those in need. Steed will be recognized with an end-of-service celebration at 5 p.m. March 20 at the O'Neill Center. The event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.
A new VISTA is expected to take over in June. The application is available at https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do under the listing Washington County Homeless Project AmeriCorps VISTA 2018-19.
Steed said her time in the role has changed the direction of her life.
Question: What made you interested in the VISTA position?
Answer: I really wanted to make a career change toward the nonprofit sector. I thought this was a great opportunity to learn more and to get involved with people.
Q: What kind of career were you in previously?
A: I had a career in retail store management. I wanted to advocate more for people than for things.
Q: Now that you've had this position for a while, do you think you made the right decision?
A: I am the luckiest person in the world. RSVP has more than 150 volunteers. It's not every day you can have an office full of 150 cheerleaders. And that's not even including the board for the homeless project, the county commissioners and all the others in the community who are doing wonderful work. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by everyone I am.
I was hoping to help others. It's so cliche to say of volunteerism but it's really true that I've realized that I've gotten so much more than I've given.
Q: Where will you be going from here?
A: I've taken a position with the Corporation for National & Community Service at the Ohio State office in Columbus. The Corporation for National & Community Service manages programs like RSVP and AmeriCorps. So, I'll be continuing national service, just at a different level.
Q: I know that you inherited the Washington County Homeless Project when you became the VISTA. What had been done previously?
A: RSVP started the homeless study in 2013. There were three VISTAs before me who did all the legwork to figure out the resources the community needs when it comes to homelessness. They had fundraisers and started the board so we could become a nonprofit.
Q: What's the status of the project now?
A: We've gotten a letter of determination from the IRS so we're officially a nonprofit. We've done a feasibility and schematic study for a community resource center, which was proposed before I got here. It is expected to have four services: showers, laundry, some kind of mail drop whether it's actual mail or over the internet and community meals. We did a schematic study with local architect David Haught.
We've also had the opportunity to do some consumer credit counseling services and work with kids on learning about finances. Last summer we did some games with kids about 8 to 12. We'd go to places like the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club and do the games with them. It was amazing. At the end, they would be asking what bankruptcy was.
We've also done the 50,000 and 100,000 meals projects which were really big. Those were some of my most favorite projects. It was such a great opportunity to have churches, businesses and service organizations all get together to educate the community about food insecurity.
Obviously, the Laundry Project has been important. The reason we're piloting that program is to highlight the need for the center. There are a lot of barriers to having clean laundry and we couldn't be more grateful for the generosity of the community in supporting that program.
Q: Has the laundry program been a success so far?
A: Just like 100,000 meals, it's been an opportunity to see so many walks of life connect to an issue. It's amazing. The clients who are using the program want to make sure there are enough resources for others to use it. There's just so much generosity and understanding.
Q: What's next for the homeless project?
A: Setting up a community commission to get past donors involved in 100,000 meals. We want to continue that as a legacy event. And there will only be a brief amount of time when there isn't a VISTA here. There will be a new one in June.
Q: Is there a time line yet for the resource center to open?
A: Right now we're getting the Laundry Project under our belts. It just started Jan. 19. We have lessons to learn in the next year. We'll be building our main services without a building so someday we can have that.
Q: Sometimes in a community like ours, there's a perception that there isn't a problem with homelessness because people tend to stay with friends or family, not on the street. What's been your experience with how much of an issue we have here?
A: We want to do more to give an education about the difference between urban and rural homelessness. When you look at the cultural norms, it's about privacy. It's so much easier to understand when you consider why you wouldn't see it. We're a proud people. We don't bring problems to the forefront. In a really rural area, you might not have neighbors for miles and miles to see what's going on.
Q: You'll be working in a much bigger community in Columbus. What are you excited to work on there?
A: This experience really has been a life-defining experience for me. Getting the opportunity to continue makes me so happy. It will be a more administrative role --it's really an opportunity to help other people get the opportunity to serve. I'm just so glad I got selected to do this.
Kate York conducted this interview.
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Stacey Steed
¯ Age: 35.
¯ Residence: Parkersburg.
¯ Education: Parkersburg High School graduate, bachelors degree from Marshall University in literature with a minor in women's studies.
¯ Position: AmeriCorps VISTA under the direction of Washington County RSVP.