ImpactvolunteerCorporation for National and Community Service9/11 anniversary

9/11: A 'National Day Of Service And Remembrance'

9/11: A 'National Day Of Service And Remembrance'
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Correction: While this article states that 911dayofservice.org is a newly launched website, it was actually launched in 2002 by the nonpartisan nonprofit MyGoodDeed, which is an entirely separate entity from Serve.gov.

This September 11, President Barack Obama has asked the country to pay tribute to the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center through action, dubbing the anniversary as a day of "service and remembrance."

Rather than just remember the lives of those lost, his hope is that thousands of Americans will take part in service-related activities to "rekindle the spirit of unity and common purpose felt in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks," he said in a press conference Friday.

To help achieve this, a new and innovative website, 9/11 National Day of Service offers ways for Americans to make their actions on September 11 felt year-round.

The Obama administration's goal is to have 100,000 organizations join the site between now and the 10th anniversary of 9/11 so people can locate volunteer opportunities across the country.

Partner networks including the Corporation for National and Community Service, HandsOn Network and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum ("9/11 Memorial") provide volunteer opportunities, charitable causes and remembrance-related activities.

Beyond guiding individuals to volunteer opportunities, the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance promotes honoring victims their families. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York is asking for participation in permanent projects and installations to pay tribute to the thousands of lives directly and indirectly affected by the day's events.

The site also offers a first-ever list of comprehensive education resources that includes 18 different lesson plans for teachers to use to awareness of the events of 9/11.

There are many ways to participate in this day of service and remembrance.

If you are in the New York area, you can add your name to the list of volunteers for the NYC service project but there are also national long-term volunteer opportunities you can participate in.

Here are 11 ways you can remember those lost and give back to your community on Saturday and any day of the year.

11 Ways To Volunteer In Remembrance of 9/11
(01 of11)
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Contribute mementos, photos and text for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The museum will feature photographs of the nearly 3,000 victims for its "Wall of Faces” to communicate the scale of human loss at the former site of the Twin Towers. (credit:AP)
(02 of11)
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Become part of the "Glean Network" and help salvage excess food for the needy. Gleaners collect excess foods from farms, gardens, grocery stores, restaurants and other sources to feed thousands of hungry Americans. Participating in gleaning can help make a drastic improvement in people’s health and save lives. (credit:AP)
(03 of11)
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Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, according to the Red Cross. Giving blood is an easy way to make a huge difference in the lives of others in your community. Regulations in the United States allow people to donate blood once every 56 days-- that's six times a year. (credit:AP)
(04 of11)
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Register to volunteer with friends and family for World Homeless Day 10/10/10. Get in touch with local churches, schools, service clubs, news outlets and local businesses to raise money and awareness for the issue. (credit:AP)
(05 of11)
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Volunteer at a local animal shelter and assist in the daily care of dogs, cats and other pets. Many shelters have volunteer programs to provide ongoing support for animals until they find a loving home.
(06 of11)
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Organize a clothing drive with families and friends. By collecting gently used clothing, you could help someone stay warm this winter, gain some dignity and or even land a job. (credit:AP)
(07 of11)
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Record a spoken remembrance of 9/11 as part of the Call to Remembrance initiative by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The museum, with the help of StoryCorps and a staff of oral historians, is inviting people to record a spoken remembrance of a loved one for their living memorial. (credit:AP)
(08 of11)
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Volunteer to help at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center for their 10th anniversary program. The center has already begun recruiting for next year’s event. (credit:AP)
(09 of11)
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Become a volunteer tutor and find out other ways you can improve literacy for adults and children at local schools. (credit:AP)
(10 of11)
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Help prepare your community for natural disasters and share your knowledge with neighbors, friends and local businesses. Whether or not you live in a part of the country known for extreme weather, it is important to know how to stay safe in the event of a disaster, especially for those with disabilities. (credit:AP)
(11 of11)
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Sponsor a cobblestone or paver to be a permanent part of the National September 11 Memorial. The money from every cobblestone or paver purchase (ranging in price of $100 to $1000) will go directly to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum fund. (credit:AP)

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