examiner.com (Camden, NJ): Local organizations support the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance

Posted September 11, 2009 by Neil

The first officially-designated September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance will be marked by service projects in all 50 states, with tens of thousands of volunteers expected to turn out to paint and refurbish homes, run food drives, spruce up schools, reclaim neighborhoods, and support and honor veterans and first responders.

“I call upon all Americans to join in service and honor the lives we lost, the heroes who responded in our hour of need, and the brave men and women in uniform who continue to protect our country at home and abroad,” said President Obama in a proclamation regarding Patriot Day and the National Day of Remembrance and Service. “Working together, we can usher in a new era in which volunteering and more service is a way of life for all Americans. Deriving strength from tragedy, we can write the next great chapter in our Nation's history and ensure that future generations continue to enjoy the promise of America.”

Locally, there are several service initiatives happening this weekend. NJPIRG Student Chapters is working with Project Porchlight for a day of service. This project includes handing out energy efficient light bulbs at the Campus Center at Rutgers University in Camden from 11:00 - 12:30pm. The Greater Camden Partnership is initiating the Camden Community GreenUp, a project meant to reclaim the vacant lots that drag on Camden’s resources and quality of life. This project is supported by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. They will "clean and green" two sites in the Cooper Plaza neighborhood, starting at 6th and Washington Streets, where their work will complement the revitalization effort already underway. At the end of September, they will move to the Lanning Square neighborhood, where they will stabilize large vacant lot swaths in the northwest and southwest quadrants. Additionally, the Corzine for Governor campaign is also joining in on the service efforts by working in the September Surge Democratic Weekend of Action.

September 11th was officially recognized as a National Day of Service and Remembrance by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, passed with strong bipartisan support and signed into law by President Obama in April 2009. Those interested in serving on September 11 can find volunteer opportunities and do-it-yourself project ideas for September 11th by visiting Serve.gov, the website created by the Corporation for National and Community Service to support United We Serve.