Posts Tagged ‘9/11’

The Heart of America

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

by Susan Morissette, Executive Director, Heart of America Quilt

In 1989 President Bush called on me.

“The old ideas are new again because they are not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in.”

In 2001 I began a quilt in the form of a US Flag that allowed children to express their concerns for victims of 9/11.

Over the years I found that it was not only our children that needed to feel helpful. Our Nation, in fact our world, needed that unity.

The little quilt my family started is now over an acre when displayed and near a ton of fabric. Former Governor Jeb Bush added a portion to this quilt along with hundreds of thousands of people around the world that have signed in unity to honor.

In 2002 a woman I had never met in person, nominated me for the Daily Point of Light Award. I received news I was selected while returning to Maine after a “Make a Difference Day” spent visiting survivors at the Pentagon.

I am not brave enough to serve in our Military. I will never wear my awards upon my chest but as a Daily Point of Light I wear my service on my heart. It is a constant knowledge that I have a sense of duty, sacrifice, commitment and patriotism.

This award has given me a pride and confidence to continue to serve and encourage others to do the same.

My volunteers receive recognition for their hard work with the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards and this year, I am honored to be nominated for the L’Oreal Women of Worth award for my work in creating the National Community Service Education Project.

For the past 9 years I have worked as volunteer executive director of what is now the worlds largest quilted US Flag. I continue to volunteer and serve for the same reason that the Point of Light Institute continues to be such a Point of Light. Unity for Mankind.When the chips are down, people come together. I have one acre of visual proof. The guidance of POLI helps people unite for the common purpose to help mankind. It has become our light house.

I have mentioned a few things this evening- Make a Difference Day, Daily Point of Light Award, Presidential Volunteer Service Awards, L’Oreal Woman of Worth Award and my story. They all have one thing that united them in the common purpose to help mankind- the Points of Light Institute.

I am one of many thousand points of light.

Thank you.

God bless you all, and God Bless America.

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Posted in Inspire, Service, Stories from the Road, Volunteer Recognition, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

Reach Across Differences

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

"volunteer"By Reverend Mark Farr, Faith-Based Initiatives Director, HandsOn Network

Nine years ago, our nation took the body blow that was 9/11.

We wondered who could be capable of such evil?

We were shaken to the core: was there, after all, a limit to diversity and tolerance?

And yet, when we all stood up again, we looked around to see a country big enough to absorb even this, and still embrace each other.

It was as if E Pluribus Unum itself had come to life.

It was amazing.

On that day, I saw the smoke from the Pentagon, burning hot and black and hideous, from my office window.

I still remember my first reaction was to go down there and pull anyone I could from that place.

No one was asking about ethnicity or the faith of those who were saved—or those who died.

We still live in the same country. The same people, and the same spirit is ours, same as nine years back: Christians and Muslims and Hindus and atheists and Jews and left and right and all of us.

The call and the response to serve is still with us, perhaps stronger now.

For us as Americans, from the founding of our country, service runs in our bloodstream. In service, we demonstrate our unity and rise above our differences for a greater good.

So, here’s how I put it together now, nine years on. The commemoration of this day, through civic engagement, more than any other day, unites us as a nation. It tells each one of us that life is fragile, each one precious, no matter our personal beliefs.

It speaks to us about courage, about how love of country sometimes turns, uninvited, into an act of service: a boy in a firefighter’s arms, a blood drive, a simple embrace of someone not at all like me. It tells us that we are a people with common ground.

So—speaking now as a first generation immigrant—God bless America.

I believe that service is a unique vehicle, not only to do good—but to connect.

I believe that this day expresses our oneness. I believe that to serve is to express love of country, and love for humanity.

Even though I may never be called to the self-sacrifice of that terrible day, what better way do I have to express tolerance, diversity, and understanding than through civic service?

What better way to reach across differences than to actually find a service project with Americans who look or talk or believe nothing like me?

I welcome your own thoughts and responses. And for each of us, it is our challenge to find an appropriate way to embrace all the meanings of this day.

I hope service plays a part."volunteer"

Related Posts:

Remembering 9/11 by Giving Back

Repair The World by Leah Koenig

Remembering 9/11 by Giving Back

September 11, Day of Service & Remembrance

What NOT to do on 9/11

Day of Remembrance

Volunteer for the 9/11 Day of Service

Don’t Let it Be Just Another Day

Reflections on 9/11

Day of Service with Jersey Cares

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Posted in Inspire, Service, Social Justice, Voice of Change, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

Change Points: The 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Friends,

September 11, 2001 is remembered in the hearts of Americans as a day of national tragedy. But, that is not the only way it is remembered. The terrorist attacks also created a time of unparalleled national unity.

The power of that unity has become The 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, a day for people to rekindle the energy, passion and connectivity experienced after the attacks. The day is spearheaded by MyGoodDeed.org, in partnership with HandsOn Network, The Corporation for National and Community Service, and the 9/11 Memorial.

The impact created from this one unified day of service cannot be underestimated. Last year 5 million Americans commemorated 9/11 by volunteering. I encourage you to take some time on this nationwide day of remembrance and make positive change happen in your community. You can locate a charitable cause or volunteer project by logging on to 911dayofservice.org.

Through 911dayofservice.org’s unique web hub, you can connect with other Americans who want to give back and become part of a powerful and positive legacy. The 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance: make it your way of showing how a day that began with tragedy brought a country closer together.

Yours in service,

Michelle Nunn
CEO, Points of Light Institute

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Posted in Change Notes, Inspire, Michelle Nunn, Mobilize, News & Links, Service, Volunteering, Volunteerism | No Comments »

New York will Never Forget

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

by Jeff Parness, Founder, The New York Says Thank You Foundation.

On 9/11, I lost my business partner and friend, Hagay Shefi.

For two years, I thought about Hagay and wondered what I could ever do to commemorate his life.

I didn’t have any good ideas until November 1 2003 when my 5-year-old son Evan told me he wanted to send his toys to kids in California who lost their homes in the wildfires.

Three days later, two friends and I drove a 17-foot U-Haul truck from New York to San Diego filled with relief supplies for the California wildfire victims.

On the side of the truck we put a big sign that said,

“NEW YORK SAYS THANK YOU”

It was my way of paying homage to Hagay, but I wanted to make a bigger statement that New Yorkers will never forget what people from small towns, and big cities, all across America did for us in our time of need.

A few months later, Evan came up to me with a serious look on his face and said,

“Dad, when Josh and I grow up, can we drive the truck if there’s a tornado in Iowa?”

That was the inspiration behind starting The New York Says Thank You Foundation.

One day of terror led to ten years of kindness.

Get Involved!  Honor the victims, survivors and heroes of 9/11 by marking the day as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Find a volunteer project, or start your own.

Related Posts:

Remembering 9/11 by Giving Back

Repair The World by Leah Koenig

How to Use Social Media to Promote 9/11 as a Day of Service

Remembering 9/11 by Giving Back

September 11, Day of Service & Remembrance

What NOT to do on 9/11

Day of Remembrance

Volunteer for the 9/11 Day of Service

Don’t Let it Be Just Another Day

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Posted in Disaster Relief, Inspire, Mobilize, Service, Stories from the Road, Volunteer Leader, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

How to Use Social Media to Remember 9/11

Monday, August 30th, 2010

by ,  HandsOn Network

Are you willing to be an online ambassador for volunteerism?

Will you leverage your social networks to encourage your readers, followers and friends to memorialize the victims, survivors and heroes of the attacks of 9/11 through A National Day of Service and Remembrance?

Here are a few ways we can do it:

Using Facebook:

You can spread the word by asking your Facebook friends to get involved and to add their names to the growing list of individuals and organizations pledging to volunteer in observance of 9/11.  Share the link to the official 9/11 National Day of Service web site (http://911dayofservice.org/).  You can also lead by example.  Invite your Facebook friends to join you at a volunteer project.

Using Twitter

The hashtag for 9/11 as A National Day of Service is #911DAY.   Spread the word about the day of service by tweeting about it and sharing the link to the official 9/11 as A National Day of Service site (http://911dayofservice.org/).  You can ask your followers to volunteer – on their own or with you!  Share the details of your volunteer project with your followers. (If you mention , I’ll see your tweet, and retweet it or )

Using A Blog

If you’re a blogger, consider writing a post about 9/11 as a Day of Service. What you remember most about 9/11/01?  What images stand out for you? Why do you believe in honoring the victims, survivors and heroes through service? How will you take part in the Day of Service and Remembrance? (Here’s a sample 9/11 blog post: https://handsonblog.org/?p=2731)

You might want to include a call to action for your readers, such as:

–> Ask them to pledge to serve via a link to the official 9/11 Day of Service page (http://911dayofservice.org/)

–> Or, if you think folks might want to plan their own project, you can share a link to HandsOn’s guide to organizing a service project.  (http://www.handsonnetwork.org/files/resources/HON_Vol_Leader_Guide_FINAL.pdf)

If you send me a link to your blog post, I’ll link to it from https://HandsOnBlog.org.

Using YouTube:

Consider creating a video about why you think the 9/11 Day of Service is important. You coul answer the blogging questions above on video, upload it to You Tube, and share it with your social networks. If you send me a link to your video and I’ll link to it from https://HandsOnBlog.org

Related Content:

Feel free to use the official 9/11 Day of  Service Image:

You can add it to your blog or website with this HTML code:

http://911dayofservice.org“>

You can also embed or share either of these 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance videos:

Just Another Day

Finally, do something creative – whatever works for you!

For example, you could offer to do something wacky if  X number of your friends, fans or readers pledge to serve.

You could challenge your friends – “If 20 people sign up, I’ll… (insert your wacky thing)!” — Shave your head? –Perform “All the Single Ladies” on You Tube?  Only you can say…

If you’re planning your own project – try using eventbrite, meetup or VolunteerSpot to get the event organized.  If you need to raise money for your project, give Crowdrise a try.

Do you know anyone else who might like to use social media to spread the word and get others involved? Why not share this post with them?

Thanks for your using social media for social good, for helping to promote volunteerism online and for making the September 11th National Day of Service & Remembrance a success!

Want to receive e-mail updates on how to use social media to encourage an online volunteer movement?  Let me know and I’ll add you to my list.  Contact me at .

Related Posts:

Repair The World by Leah Koenig

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Posted in Service, Social Media, Tools You Can Use, Volunteerism | 3 Comments »

A Day of Service and Remembrance

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

by Jessica Kirkwood, VP for Social Media, HandsOn Network

When the first plane hit the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, I thought it must have been a small, private plane.

I was in a meeting at the HandsOn Network office when I heard the news, but the meeting resumed until the second plane hit the other tower.

One by one, the HandsOn Network and local Hands On Atlanta staff gathered in the conference room to watch the now historic 9/11 coverage unfold before our eyes.

We watched the towers fall in disbelief.

Thinking back to that time, what I remember most are the individual stories  about fathers, husbands and sons,  wives, mothers and daughters.

I remember the tone of voice mail messages left on unanswered cell phones, last declarations of love.

I remember hand made signs seeking those who were missing. “Have you seen…?”

I remember stories about the bravery of individual fire fighters, police officers and volunteers.

I remember thinking about the meaning of the word hero.

I remember the images of bodies falling and of faces covered in fine, white ash.

I remember the candlelight vigils, extreme and overwhelming sorrow and, at the same time, a powerful sense of community fellowship.

So many people the world over grieved together and I remember how that felt. I can feel that memory right at the center of my chest.

This year marks the 9th anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001.

.

I can’t think of a better way to honor those that lost their lives and the families who went on without them than by doing something good for your community.

There is a way that serving others connects us, binds us together.

There’s a power in it, a connective force.

Where were you on September 11, 2001?

What do you remember?

Will you add your name to the to the growing list of individuals and organizations that are pledging to support causes, volunteer, or perform good deeds in observance of 9/11 this year?

Will you be the leader you’ve been waiting for…

Encourage your social networks to spend 9/11 volunteering by sharing this on Facebook or Twitter.  If you share it on your blog, send us a link at and we’ll link to your post!

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Posted in Disaster Relief, Inspire, Mobilize, News & Links, Service, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »