Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 26, 2015
Contact:
MEDIA ALERT: Virginia State Parks crew providing emergency assistance to the Town of Appalachia
A Virginia Service and Conservation Corps (VSCC) crew from Virginia State Parks has deployed to the Town of Appalachia in Wise County, to assist snowbound residents.
This is the first time a Virginia State Parks VSCC crew is providing assistance to a local community.
The Virginia State Parks VSCC was created in November 2014 to assist with large projects in parks – trail creation and maintenance, for example – but also to serve as a quick-response team for communities in general.
VSCC crew members receive extensive training, which includes CPR, first aid and chainsaw certification.
VSCC is funded by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Assistance for the town of Appalachia was requested and efforts were coordinated by Virginia’s Office of Volunteer and Community Service, Virginia State Parks, and Glen “Skip” Skinner, Executive Director of LENOWISCO Planning District Commission.
The five-member crew of three women and two men is based in Hungry Mother State Park in Marion. Additional VSCC crews are based at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield and Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge.
For additional information about VSCC, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/pr_relz_detail?id=2014-09-15-12-09-55-77573
Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Contacts:
Jim Meisner Jr.
Public Relations Specialist
Va. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation
Richmond, VA 23219
Cell 804-937-4546
Fred Luntsford, Town Manager of Appalachia
Cell 276-708-1773
Cyndi Juarez
Virginia State Parks
Director of Community Engagement and Volunteerism
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Cell 571-409-4348
Amanda S. Healy
AmeriCorps Program Manager
Office on Volunteerism and Community Service
Virginia Department of Social Services
Office: 804-726-7072
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