DES MOINES, IOWA – Thousands of volunteers from communities across Iowa will commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by joining in patriotic acts of volunteer service as part of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, commonly known as 9/11 Day.
Volunteer Iowa, supported by a grant from AmeriCorps, will honor those who lost their lives in 2001 and those who rose in service to our country on the anniversary of this solemn moment in U.S. history. On Sept. 11, Iowans of all ages and backgrounds are invited to join service projects and serve alongside their neighbors and local leaders to meet needs in their communities.
"Volunteering on 9/11 Day of Service is a powerful way to honor the resilience and unity that emerged from tragedy. It's a chance to turn remembrance into action, build stronger communities, and experience the profound impact of service. This day can inspire you to continue volunteering and making a difference long after the day is over," said Volunteer Iowa Executive Director Adam Lounsbury.
Volunteer Iowa is offering more than 20 opportunities to volunteer throughout the state with projects in coordination with city governments and local nonprofits. Volunteers will participate in a variety of activities, including a 5K food drive, park cleanup, blood drive, serving meals to veterans, writing thank you cards to first responders, installing garden beds, yard work, youth mental health and wellness fair, memorial concert, camp cleanup and wheelchair ramp builds —taking an active role in improving communities where they live, work, and play.
Find a local volunteer opportunity at https://volunteer.iowa.gov/911-day-service-and-remembrance.
September 11th was designated a National Day of Service by Congress in 2009 and is led by AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service. AmeriCorps partners with 911Day.org, the nonprofit that, along with 9/11 families, began the 9/11 Day observance more than a decade ago and engages hundreds of nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, schools, and businesses nationwide.
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About Volunteer Iowa
Volunteer Iowa—administratively housed within Iowa HHS—and its partner agencies work with organizations and individuals on three main fronts. The first is to help agencies develop quality programs that use service as a strategy to fulfill their missions and address Iowa’s greatest areas of need. The second is to help engage Iowans in their communities by promoting service and expanding the volunteer base. Finally, the third area of work is to connect individuals with appropriate service opportunities by building volunteer infrastructure. More information is available at volunteeriowa.org.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. AmeriCorps.gov/Serve.