GRAND RAPIDS, MI — “Like mother, like daughter” is a phrase we use to describe the similarities and attributes of a mother daughter relationship. However, in AmeriCorps’ case at Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, it is the daughter who first set the example and the mother who is following in her footsteps. Daughter Ricki Oldenkamp has been serving in the AmeriCorps program at Goodwill for over nine months. Her mother Rose Crowley recently signed on with the program as well.

 

Both mother and daughter find the AmeriCorps program a rewarding experience of giving back to the community. They are among 23 AmeriCorps members at Goodwill Industries in various positions who gain experience during a one-year service commitment. Many AmeriCorps members like Ricki are drawn to the program with a desire to volunteer. Members earn a small stipend and education award while working their community service hours. With only 75,000 AmeriCorps members on a national level, Goodwill realizes that it’s rare to find a mother daughter duo with the same desire of serving their community through the same organization.

 

Ricki is currently a part-time student at Grand Rapids Community College and will be finishing in the winter. She will then transfer to Northern Michigan University in Marquette. “I have always wanted to do join the Peace Corps and because it requires you to have a bachelor’s degree, I sought out an alternative,” explained Oldenkamp. “I learned AmeriCorps is the domestic Peace Corps.” As an AmeriCorps member, Ricki is the Volunteer Coordinator for Goodwill which is the main contact for anyone who wants to volunteer within Goodwill’s stores, recycling center, and the Hartley Center. Ricki meets with these individuals, assesses where their skills will be best utilized, and tracks the hours of volunteers as well as the other AmeriCorps members. After Ricki earns her degree and completes her year within the Goodwill AmeriCorps program, she hopes to sign on with the Peace Corps.

 

Before enrolling in the Goodwill AmeriCorps program, Rose Crowley owned a motorcycle and snowmobile parts supply store in Newaygo. Even then, she had a passion to help veterans. After re-marrying and looking to move out of state in the next year or two, she wanted nothing long-term and needed something part-time. Rose’s daughter, Ricki, who at the time was recruiting new AmeriCorps members, assisted Rose with obtaining a position in the Goodwill AmeriCorps program. Rose works with the Goodwill’s Homeless Veteran’s Reintegration Program (HVRP) and Veterans Per Diem Only (PDO), providing job opportunities and temporary housing to local veterans.

 

Though working together in the AmeriCorps program, it is not obvious to other co-workers and peers that the two are related. At work, Ricki and Rose like to keep their relationship strictly professional. “We like to keep our relationship on a personal level, rarely will Ricki refer to me as ‘Mom’ while at work,” states Crowley about working alongside her daughter.

 

Because it was Oldenkamp who referred Crowley for the opening position they didn’t want their relationship to have any impact on Crowley getting the position. With both Oldenkamp and Crowley working in AmeriCorps it is not only a job, but a blessing in disguise. Both ladies admitted to having very busy lives and are now able to talk and spend time together at work. “We talk more at work than we do outside of work,” laughs Oldenkamp. Not only do they work to serve the community, they also are able to spend quality time with one another, working together as a mother/daughter duo.

 

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