A volunteer-heavy effort to restore some of Louisiana’s eroding coast with recycled oyster shells was part of the scenic backdrop for a visit from the head of AmeriCorps, the federal agency that deploys volunteers to serve communities around the nation.

U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar recently announced their offices have secured $2,065,575 in AmeriCorps funding for the nonprofit City Year, a nationwide organization that focuses on bridging gaps in education.

Meals On Wheels is in dire need of volunteers to deliver meals to senior citizens.

As pandemic-related government aid programs end and inflation rises, nonprofits of all kinds are looking everywhere and trying everything to get volunteers.

The additional funding includes:— $620 million for AmeriCorps’ state and national programs, which provide grants to local nonprofits to hire AmeriCorps members for designated projects. — $80 million boost for AmeriCorps Vista, which works with local nonprofits and governments on anti-poverty programs. The new stimulus measure expands that eligibility to nonprofits that operate at multiple locations as long as no more than 500 employees work at any single location, according to the National Council of Nonprofits. AdHELP FOR NONPROFITS THAT SELF-INSURE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITSThe measure extends and expands help for nonprofits that self-insure unemployment benefits. Under previous stimulus legislation, the federal government covered half the costs of benefits provided to their laid-off employees.