This fall, the City of Mesa and JustServe.org will join in commemorating the 9/11 National Day of Service by encouraging families, faith groups, neighbors, and employers to grab a friend, find a good cause, and volunteer on or around Sept. 11.
These acts of service serve a dual purpose — they stand as a tribute to those lost or injured on Sept. 11, 2001, and they promote the same spirit of unity the country experienced after the terrorist attacks 22 years ago. The 911Day.org website hopefully declares that “coming together in a spirit of kindness, no matter our differences, has the power to change lives, and ultimately, our world.”
The national movement to honor Sept. 11 by participating in community service started with a nonprofit organization called 9/11 Day. The two founders, one of whom lost a brother in the terrorist attacks, “began with a simple idea — let’s take back the day by turning the anniversary of 9/11 into a day of doing good.” (911day.org/ about-911-day/) From those simple beginnings, 9/11 Day has grown, and it is now a federally recognized day of service in which tens of millions of Americans volunteer in their communities.
Last year for 9/11 Day in Arizona, one Mesa congregation worked with the nonprofit, A New Leaf, to organize thousands of unsorted clothing donations, collected hundreds more, cleaned up and renovated the landscaping at one of their shelters, and refurbished outdoor furniture. One of the organizers of that project, Bruce Kiene, reported that although it was a big effort for their congregation — and not without challenges — they “were very blessed, accomplished amazing things, and all parties involved felt rewarded by the service. We also met many new friends in the community.” Bruce is already working on organizing this year’s project, which will include A New Leaf and a few new projects.
ocal businesses, faith groups, families, and neighborhood groups around Mesa are already making plans to participate in the City of Mesa’s officially designated day of service — Sept. 16. But the 9/11 Day effort will extend far beyond Mesa. Cities and towns across the Valley, state, and country will participate in the Day of Service with a variety of projects.
In Payson, one group plans to work cleaning up trails in the national forest. In Fort Worth, Texas, another group will collect hygiene kits. The 9/11 Day organization itself sponsors large meal pack events in 18 cities around the country, from Boston to Los Angeles, and Minneapolis to Houston — including one in Tempe.
Local families, faith-based organizations, businesses, and community groups who would like to participate in 9/11 Day can find hundreds of ideas at JustServe.org, which is a full partner of the 9/11 Day organization. Free to use for both nonprofit organizations or potential volunteers, JustServe.org lists projects suited to many ages, budgets, skill sets, and group sizes.
The JustServe.org platform makes it very easy for those who want to participate in the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance to find a project in their community that suits their time and skills while serving side-by-side with their neighbors to meet needs in their communities. Participants can share their experiences on social media by using the hashtags: #911nationaldayofservice and #JustServe.
To find out more information on how you can find a good cause, and volunteer on or around Sept. 11, visit 911day.org or justserve.org