GEORGETOWN — Sussex County’s CHEER is receiving more than a quarter-million federal dollars to support COVID-19 recovery.

Delaware’s Democratic congressional delegation — Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester — recently announced that CHEER will receive $282,378 from AmeriCorps.

The award will support 1,000 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in Sussex County, as they help communities recover from the pandemic through service work.

“This funding is essential in helping CHEER to rebuild its network of volunteers, who experienced hardships throughout this pandemic, while continuing to serve and support the needs of our senior citizens throughout Sussex County,” said Ken Bock, CHEER’s CEO.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of the CHEER Nutrition Program, and this funding will help ensure that our seniors continue to receive the CHEER meals they depend on.”

AmeriCorps Seniors will support CHEER Nutrition, Meals on Wheels, kitchen helpers, nonemergency medical transportation and charities.

For the past year, thousands of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors members across all 50 states and U.S. territories have continued their service, quickly adapting to meet the changing needs caused by the pandemic.

“AmeriCorps members have stepped up to meet urgent community needs during the pandemic and are always among the first to answer the call to serve when we move our communities forward,” said Sen. Coons. “CHEER Inc. does exceptional work in Sussex County, assisting and enabling our seniors to continue living a healthy independent life, and I’m thankful that AmeriCorps recognizes its impact and is awarding critical American Rescue Plan funds to invest (in) its mission.”