On the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, as a way to pay tribute to, and remember the victims and others we wish to honor, we put aside whatever differences we may have at the moment, and work together to help others in need. That is the annual ritual, a fitting and appropriate gift to the many that lost their lives and the countless others who were injured or came to the aid or defense of those in need.Thanks to the strong support of tens of thousands of nonprofits, employers, faith organizations, schools and other organizations around the nation, 9/11 is now this nation’s largest day of charitable engagement. Last year a record 35 million people observed 9/11 by performing good deeds and engaging in service activities that help others. The 9/11 Day Vision

Here’s what makes 9/11 Day unique…
The 9/11 Day Observance is unique in so many ways.

First, 9/11 is not just a day of volunteering. It is a day of doing good deeds of any kind to help someone else. While that certainly does include volunteering activities, individuals can participate in any fashion they want, by making donations to causes, helping friends move, cleaning up the house, buying supplies for classrooms, or even giving out hugs to those we love and appreciate.

Of course we engage in good deeds and other charitable activity in honor of those lost and injured in the 2001 terrorist attacks, and in tribute to the many that rose in service in response to the attacks – our firefighters and EMTs, public safety officers, rescue and recovery workers, volunteers, and also our men and women in the armed forces. But why? Ultimately, we want something positive to come from the sacrifices they made. Also, we want to forever remember and keep alive the spirit of unity that arose in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. We became one nation, bonded by our universal concern for the well-being of others, and our desire to help those in need. We put aside our differences for a while, and although that moment was fleeting, we had the rare opportunity to experience what our society could be like if we worked more closely together to solve our problems.

Through 9/11 Day each year, we honor those who gave so much, and remember the remarkable spirit of unity that brought us together as a nation. On the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, as a way to pay tribute to, and remember the victims and others we wish to honor, we put aside whatever differences we may have at the moment, and work together to help others in need. That is the annual ritual, a fitting and appropriate gift to the many that lost their lives and the countless others who were injured or came to the aid or defense of those in need.

Text First: Pledge to Drill

Ready.gov: Pledge to Prepare

I WILL: Pledge to Serve

United Way: Pledge to Volunteer

9/11 Day in Michigan: Volunteer in Your Community

Michigan Dept of Human Services sent this bulletin at 09/09/2013 02:20 PM EDT

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SERVE.HONOR.REMEMBER.

Individuals and organizations across Michigan are preparing to volunteer as a way to strengthen communities in honor of September 11, 2001.

Find a local volunteer opportunity!

Visit www.volunteermichigan.org to search for volunteer opportunities by zip code. Use key words like 9/11 day or National Day of Service to narrow your search.

Spread the word about what you accomplished!

After you volunteer at a 9/11 Day service project, share what you've done with others, including; media, community partners, and local businesses. Share your story of service with a friend, coworker, or on social media sites. Doing so will encourage others to volunteer in the future!

Reflect on what you did!

An important aspect of service is to reflect on your efforts. Take a moment to think about your volunteer activity and the impact you made on your community.

Continue to get involved!

9/11 Day isn't the only special opportunity to get involved in service and volunteerism. Consider participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Global Youth Service Day, or others.

Win a $50 Meijer Gift Card!

Did your organization host a 9/11 Day of Service volunteer project?

If yes, your organization can enter to win one of two $50 Meijer gift cards to be used to support future service projects simply by filling out a quick post-project survey. The deadline to enter is September 23, 2013. Just let us know the number of volunteers, total number of volunteer hours served, and number of people your project served!

Fill out the survey here. Winners will notified by October 4, 2013.

2013 9/11 Day of Service Mini-Grant Recipients

The Michigan Days of Service Partners, with support from the Connect Michigan Alliance Endowment Fund and the Corporation for National and Community Service, awarded 27 organizations with mini-grants to host service projects as part of the 2013 9/11 Day of Service. Projects will take place in communities throughout and were awarded to local schools, service clubs, and social service agencies. For a list of funded projects and descriptions, please read the 2013 September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Mini-Grants Benefit Veterans and Military Families Through Service press release from the Michigan Community Service Commission.

Spread the word!

Share your project with us on social media. Post pictures and updates to the Michigan Community Service Commission Facebook page and use the #911DayMI hash tag on Twitter.