Dinosaurs March On White House To Save National Service From Extinction

Doha Madani
Updated

If it takes dressing up like a T. rex to save AmeriCorps, this group is down for the cause.

About 100 demonstratorsdressed up in inflatable dinosaur costumes assembled outside the White House on Wednesday to roar about cuts to the national service budget. PresidentDonald Trump’s first budget for Congressseeks to eliminate fundingfor the longstanding government initiative to promote national service, the Corporation for National and Community Service.

And theseTyrannosaurus rexesreally don’t want to see that happen.

“We’re coming for you,” the protesters chanted. “Rawr!”

AColumbia University studyshowed that every $1 invested in national service results in nearly $4 worth of community gains.

CNCS oversees a wide range of programs, including AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. The programshelp American communities with volunteer initiativesin schools and senior centers, and with disaster relief and military family support.

The agency is currently assisting with relief efforts in Texas after Hurricane Harvey devastated huge areas, including Houston, Beaumont and Port Arthur.

“AmeriCorps members with American Youth Works are assisting Red Cross shelter operations and additional AmeriCorps members will provide support for Red Cross damage and disaster assessments, mobile feeding routes, shelters, warehouses, and logistics,” the agencysaid in a statement last week.

A post shared by Michelle Tucker (@booksbymt)on Aug 30, 2017 at 12:42pm PDT

It’s nice to see these ubiquitous T. rex outfits get used for something other than another meme.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.