Answering the Call to Respond to COVID-19 with MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin

In this episode of The S-Files, we are going back to look at the service done by AmeriCorps members with Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.  In recognition of the impact of their service, MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin was honored with a COVID-19 Response Service Award at the 2021 Governor’s Service Awards. Since the ceremony this summer, MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin has folded into the larger MCHS Community Corps program, whose AmeriCorps members started serving this fall.We start our conversation with Shelly Kaiser, who was the program director for MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin, to get an overview of the different types of service that their AmeriCorps members have done to respond to COVID-19.  We next sit down with AmeriCorps member Mario Fregoso, who served with Volunteer Wisconsin last year and is continuing to serve as part of MCHS Community Corps at United Way of Dane County supporting their Wisconsin 211 program.Listen in to learn how MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin AmeriCorps members helped others through answering COVID-19 calls at 211, assisted food pantries and other non-profits, facilitated safe opportunities for volunteers to help in their communities, and many other response efforts during the pandemic.