LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton issued a proclamation on Tuesday naming it National Service Recognition Day in the city.

The proclamation was presented to Carla Heath, who is over the Troup County Senior Corps Program. The program includes the Senior Companions, which assists and cares for the elderly, and Foster Grandparents, which tutors and mentors students. AmeriCorps was also recognized.

“National service members are embedded in the communities we serve, using their ingenuity and training to make a tangible, lasting impact,” Mayor Jim Thornton said. “… AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers help local leaders make their community stronger.”

Heath said the local program has grown a lot, and she hopes to see the program continue to grow so that more people can be served.

“When I came in, the program was on a decline, and now we are starting to increase our numbers,” Heath said. “The projection is really to increase it by 50 percent of what we are [within the next year], so that is what we are working on now.”

The Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS), the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties and Cities of Service have led the initiative to recognize the volunteers who make services to the community possible.

“I am serving in this capacity on an interim basis,” Heath said. “I have been here since June of last year, and it has been rewarding to come into LaGrange and establish a rapport and network. Mayor Thornton has been a large help for us with the success from this program.”

According to the proclamation, CNCS engages 325,000 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers in national service at more than 50,000 locations. However, not everyone knows about the programs and the help they offer.

“There is a need, but I am finding a lot of families aren’t even familiar with us,” Heath said. “We have some families that are having to quit jobs because they have to take care of someone. Whereas, they weren’t aware of us, who could have placed individuals in the home to assist with that.”

The Troup County Senior Corps program operates out of the Troup County District Four Health Department. For more information, call (706) 298-3612 or visit Troupcohealth.org/senior-corps/.