Volunteers for national service desperately needed
By STEPHEN GOLDSMITH and HARRIS WOFFORD
 The start of the holiday season brings anguish for many families across the country. More Americans are struggling to make ends meet. They will be in need of support and services just at the time when the nonprofits who can help meet those needs are facing precipitous drops in giving. Food banks' supplies are set to reach new lows. Yet this year we will see millions of citizens reach out in record numbers to assist those in need -- offering food, special care and compassion.
As the government seeks to deal with the economic crisis and relieve the distress felt by millions of families, we should not overlook the great American tradition of service. More than 60 million citizens every year are providing service to their neighbors and their communities.
Lawmakers who will soon consider a financial stimulus package should also consider a ''service stimulus.'' Repairing the roads and bridges of our physical infrastructure is urgently needed, but we also need to expand our civic infrastructure dramatically.
President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to make service a central cause of his presidency. In his call to service outlining plans for a large expansion of citizen service, he said he would reach out to Republicans, Democrats and independents alike, young and old, and ask all of us for our service and active citizenship. ''We need your service, right now,'' he said. (more)
 On Friday, September 26, City Year Miami officially launched, showcasing 82 idealistic and enthusiastic new members sporting the trademark red City Year jackets. City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them
the skills and opportunities to change the world. 
As tutors, mentors, and role models, these idealistic leaders make a difference in the lives of children, and transform schools and neighborhoods in 18 U.S. locations and Johannesburg, South Africa. Just as important, during their year of service, corps members develop civic leadership skills they can use throughout a lifetime of community service. (more)
Volunteer Florida is proud to announce that our agency has received two awards of excellence at the National Conference on Disability Inclusion & National Service, held Oct. 16 - 18 in Alexandria, Virginia!
The awards, sponsored in part by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Service Inclusion Project at the University of Massachusetts, Boston Institute for Community Inclusion, recognize outstanding efforts to engage people with disabilities in volunteer service and national service programs.
Inclusion in Action Award
The Inclusion in Action Award was presented to Volunteer Florida for the innovative 6 Days 6 Ramps project, which actively recruits volunteers with disabilities to help build wheelchair ramps for people in need. 6 Days 6 Ramps started in 2000 as a joint project between Volunteer Florida and AmeriCorps Florida State Parks as a single-event, single-site communityservice project. Since that time, it has grown into a six-day, multi-site community strengthening event engaging more than 1,000 volunteers – many with disabilities.
In 2008, 6 Days 6 Ramps, engaged 409 volunteers to build 42 ramps in seven cities.
Excellence in Partnering Award
This award was presented in recognition of the ongoing and transformative efforts of the Volunteer Florida Inclusion Council to engage  people with disabilities in all aspects of national service and volunteerism. Initially convened in 2003, the Inclusion Council – comprised of people with disabilities, organizations like Ability1st Independent Living Center, the Division of Blind Services, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, and national service representatives – has positively influenced policy, practice, outreach and recruitment of people with disabilities to become members and volunteers in virtually all service programs throughout the state.
Volunteer Florida is thrilled to be recognized for its ongoing commitment to engage people with disabilities in volunteer service, and in AmeriCorps and national service programs!
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