Ian McGrath is an Ameri-Corps state member. He has been serving with Bath United Church of Christ, under the Community Resource Corps (CRC).

The CRC is a division of the Goodwill Industries of Northern New England and is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps places individuals with nonprofit organizations around the country to positively affect communities and the environment.

Every year there is an AmeriCorps Week. The purpose for this week is to recognize the commitment of AmeriCorps members and alumni by highlighting the impact AmeriCorps makes across our nation.

This year, AmeriCorps Week will take place from Saturday, March 10, through Sunday, March 18. To learn more about opportunities to serve, visit: www.nationalservice.gov.

McGrath stated in a recent interview, “Primarily, I would say that I’m interested in AmeriCorps because of the opportunity to be focused on service for one year. At this point in my life, I have fewer commitments than I will later on in my life, which gives me the ability to devote myself to helping a community.

“I believe that our actions define us. If I want to say that I believe service is important, and that I love community, then I must act in a way that proves it.”

As community outreach coordinator for Bath United Church of Christ, McGrath is responsible for helping improve, or help to make sustainable, some of the social programs that function out of Bath UCC. He also will look to create new programs to meet the needs of individuals in our community.

He also is making connections between Bath UCC and other people in the community who are interested in community development.

McGrath has been primarily working with “The Neighborhood Café” on Tuesday nights, a time when the community shares a meal. They’re working on creating an area so that people who wish to may get haircuts during the café.

They also open the café Fridays from 1 p. m. to 4 p. m., with tea, coffee, snacks and a warm place to meet others.

Their first newsletter, “ News from the Neighborhood,” features some of the regular participants and helpers at the café, along with some helpful tidbits about the neighborhood.

Currently, Ian is working with a few people both in and out of the Neighborhood Faith Community to create a teen center in Bath. He says of this, “The more I have spoken to various individuals, the more it’s beginning to seem like something that needs to happen.”

The teen center opened March 1 and will be available from 2: 15 p. m. to 4: 30 p. m. every Thursday.

Neighborhood Faith Community, United Church of Christ, located at 150 Congress Ave., Bath, has been proactively working toward connecting neighbors in an effort to unite community. They have Good Sam representatives receiving phone calls from people who need support.

The site is established as a local food bank, the Winter Farmers Market meets there and there are a variety of other groups that meet throughout the week in the building.

McGrath sums up the core essence of the Neighborhood Faith Community well in this statement: “I love the vision of community the Neighborhood Faith Community is building. It feels as though the goal is to meet people where they are without passing judgment. I know that personally I felt very welcomed here, and continue to feel welcomed.

“I also appreciate that there are very general guidelines for beginning new projects. So long as what a person does is within dignity, respect, and lovingkindness, then it’s okay to do. It’s great that the Faith Community allows for such freedom.”

Hannah Gosselin is financial secretary for the Bath United Church of Christ.

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