Local United Ways and numerous other organizations are offering a myriad of volunteer opportunities in observance of the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance.
“September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance was started through the efforts of 9/11 family members and support groups as a way to honor the victims and heroes,” said Tom Weiksnar, board member of United Way of Martin County (Florida). “Volunteers throughout Martin County will join with volunteers throughout the United States to rekindle the spirit of unity that followed the attacks, to honor the lives lost, and the heroes who responded.”
United Way of Greater St. Louis is sponsoring the 9/11 Week of Service and Remembrance. Volunteers can choose to sign up for more than 50 projects on 9/11 and throughout the week. Activities include preparing care packages for troops, serving as a mentor, assisting senior citizens and beautifying neighborhoods and buildings. UWGSL also is holding a candlelight vigil and performances by the St. Louis police choir and the Marine Corps Base Albany Band on the evening of September 11th.
In addition, new educational resources are available to help America's children learn about what happened on 9/11 and why, and to inspire students to annually pay tribute through their own voluntary expressions of charitable service. Eighteen different online lesson plans, videos and photos, guides to assist teachers and parents, and tips to help students adopt charitable causes for the day and create service projects are available free of charge from the 9/11 National Day of Service Initiative. The tools are geared for students between the 5th and 12th grades, but resources are available for almost every school age group. An estimated 10,000 teachers are expected to utilize the resources this year.
The 9/11 National Day of Service initiative is led by a coalition of organizations that includes the Corporation for National and Community Service, HandsOn Network, and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York. To find out how you can participate in your community, contact your local United Way, or enter your zip code here