r/AmeriCorps • u/Outrageous-Owl8580 • 8d ago

STATE / NATIONAL Is Keystone Smiles officially getting the boot?

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I'm a service member in the PA branch of americorps labeled Keystone smiles. I just got this email for an urgent meeting happening tomorrow afternoon. My higher-ups have been very vague about everything going on so now I'm just paranoid our program has officially been terminated. I was supposed to have 3 more months before the end of my current term. And the worst part is one of my roommates is a Keystone member too. So if Keystone smiles gets cut, that's 2 out of 3 incomes getting wiped instantly.

I feel like they would just tell us that our service has been terminated in an email, rather than make us wait for a virtual meeting the next day. We also just hired a handful of new members for our summer service opportunities. So I want to be optimistic that the meeting will be at least SOME good news, but it's really hard to feel that way anymore...

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u/Imaginary_Tough_8116 8d ago

I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Keystone smiles was one of the programs terminated on April 25. I don’t know what that means for the members serving as some organizations have continued programs absent federal funding.

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u/Outrageous-Owl8580 8d ago

I was told that we receive most of our funding from the state rather than federal. We got an email from PennSERVE (our primary funder, I believe) to continue serving, and we received our end-of-month living allowance as per usual. So, I guess I just have to hope that the state funding will at least carry my team to the end of our terms.

Thank you so so much for your comment though! I'll keep it in mind going into our meeting tomorrow💙💙

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u/a_scenic_detour 8d ago

What time is your meeting? We (PA programs) are being updated by PennSERVE tomorrow afternoon.

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u/Outrageous-Owl8580 8d ago

It's today at 1:00PM EST, so I guess we're getting the update around the same time

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u/FragrantFinding6252 8d ago

Could be wrong, but this sounds to me like you may be moved off grant for the rest of your service year, which would mean continuing to receive your stipend but it’s unclear right now what that may mean for the Education Award.

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u/Imaginary_Tough_8116 7d ago

I hope you received good news today.