As the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance draws closer, you may be making plans to join in with a service project of your own but then realize that you have no idea where to start. We can help you with that.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has a variety of resources to support you while creating an event for September 11th (or any other time, for that matter).

Make a Plan

In the days and weeks after the September 11th attacks, Americans united with a spirit of compassion to heal our wounds. Think about how you would like to serve on 9/11 this year. Some of the more common ideas include school spruce-up projects, food or clothing collection drives, or home repairs for someone in need. Or you can consider ways to serve first responders, veterans, and current servicemen and women and their families to let them know you support them.

CNCS has a new online webinar that can help you map out your 9/11 event as you work your way through the planning stages of your project.

Grab Some Tools

One of the best things about the 9/11 Day of Service is that you're not limited to one specific area when you're ready to serve. We have toolkits that cover a variety of topics and areas to help take your event from idea to execution.

Promote It

Once you have your plan in place, you need to spread the word about it. You'll need to get your story out via traditional and social media channels, and our CNCS team created a webinar on utilizing media with tips that will help you promote your event. We also have web resources and print materials available to help you advertise your project.

You should also add your event to volunteer search engines to boost recruitment. This website uses the All for Good search engine to help people find projects, and you can also post the event to VolunteerMatch to cast a wider net for people in your area looking to give back on 9/11 Day.

Celebrate!

Have fun! This is not a have-to-do but a want-to-do, so enjoy the experience. Use the opportunity to gather with friends and family, or make it a team-building exercise for your office.

Don't Stop Now

People who serve regularly are healthier and 17 percent more attractive than those who don't volunteer. OK -- we can't prove that serving will make you more attractive, but studies have shown that volunteering has proven health benefits. So you're helping yourself while you're helping others.

Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifice that veterans have made for our country and an opportunity to create a more meaningful experience for the veterans in your community. One way you can create a lasting memory of service is to record the story of a veteran in your life and contribute it to the Veterans History Project.
 

It's the start of a long Fourth of July weekend and for many that means a trip to the beach or backyard barbeques. For most it will mean an extra day or two off work and a patriotic celebration of some sort, possibly a parade or some fireworks.
 

During his lifetime, Dr. King set big goals, focused relentlessly on results, and achieved historic change. To meet today’s challenges, we need a new generation of citizens to take action to solve problems in their communities. Ten days from now, thousands of Americans will respond to that challenge as they serve their community on the 25th Anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service.