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United Way Blog

Volunteer to Honor and Remember

Volunteer to Honor and Remember

9/11/14 marks the 13th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.  It is a day to remember and honor those who were lost, their families and the toll it took on all of us. It is the National Day of Service and Remembrance. I hope you will join millions of others on this day who are choosing to honor and remember through volunteer service.

A spirit of compassion and unity swept the nation in the aftermath of that tragic day, which has come to symbolize the determination, generous spirit and resilience of the American people.  These are the same attributes found in volunteers, and their service is central to what keeps our nation strong. On the National Day of Service and Remembrance, United Way will tap into that spirit of giving and direct it to advancing the common good, community by community. 

Capital Area United Way in Baton Rouge, LA is partnering with BASF again to honor and assist members of the military and veterans.  Veterans and others can attend a career fair, and volunteers can write notes of appreciation, sponsor a care package and donate personal hygiene and household items for veterans’ homeless shelters host a supply drive. The Women’s Leadership Council of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley recently collected 1,500 children’s books.  On 9/11, more than 50 volunteers and 10 female Boston police officers will donate the books to children throughout the greater Boston area and read Am I Small? at five donation sites.  Foothills United Way is hosting its 20th annual Day of Caring in connection with National Service and Remembrance Day.  The event was cancelled in 2013 due to the Colorado floods, but in 2012 some 1,200 volunteers completed 50 different projects for organizations throughout the Lafayette area. Even more volunteers are expected this year.

MyGoodDeed and other organizations are also organizing service and remembrance events across the country, and has developed free lesson plans focused on teaching about 9/11 to children in constructive ways, bringing the message of service and remembrance into the classroom. 

At United Way we often say, “Reach out a hand to one, and influence the condition of all.” Even if you can’t engage in some sort of organized volunteer activity on September 11th, you can still reach out in a positive way: share this video, to honor the memory of the day and the future of your country and community.   LIVE UNITED.