Amanda Witherspoon of Columbus has recently undertaken a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) assignment with

Gould Farm in Monterey, Mass.

Gould Farm is a respected non-sectarian working farm for persons with severe mental illness. It offers a healing milieu of care, work, rest and counseling, accommodating 40 guests. The farm consists of 600 acres including a 100-acre farm in picturesque New England. Individuals suffering from mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression and bi-polar disease have found that living and working within a community that offers friendship in a setting of natural beauty provides the necessary support to promote their ability to develop and/or improve functional skills. Witherspoon will be working at the Roadside Store & Café, where she will work alongside guests and gain experience in both restaurant/retail management and human services.

Witherspoon finished two semesters at Isothermal Community College before transferring to North Greenville University,  where she studied intercultural studies. She has served as a volunteer at The Meeting Place, a senior center where she was responsible for cleaning, cooking, and serving the residents. She also volunteered at the Golden Living Assisted Living Facility as activities volunteer and was vice president of Programming and Treasurer for the Cub Scouts.