Unite Through Service on September 11th

September 8, 2022 - (3 min read)

Civic Engagement

On September 11, 2001, our nation endured a horrific tragedy. Now, on September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance, we honor those we lost and remember the heroes, first responders, and countless others who acted in service to respond to the attacks and help the country and their communities recover. 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance demonstrates how we can unite through service in our communities.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, invites you to honor the sacrifices of the victims and heroes with us this 9/11 Day through acts of service. Together, we can spark a passion and create relationships between communities and individuals across divides that extend past this day to inspire a lifetime of service in all Americans.

9/11 reminds us that service and unity provide us the momentum to help build a new foundation for the future that is more equitable and just. When we serve side by side with our neighbors, we can help build better communities that advance racial equity, provide more opportunity, and foster respect for individual differences. The time is now to roll up our sleeves and make a difference for our neighbors in need – together.

9/11 Day Service Opportunities

As the federal agency charged with supporting the country’s two national days of service, 9/11 Day of Service and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, AmeriCorps partners with organizations nationwide to provide opportunities to unite through service.

Across the country – from small towns to big cities – Americans come together to serve. Volunteer efforts range from food drives and home repairs to neighborhood cleanups and disaster preparation activities. Here are a few ways your city or town can lift up service on 9/11 and beyond:

Serve on 9/11. Demonstrate a spirit of bipartisan unity through service around 9/11.Resources and volunteer opportunities are available on our website.
Issue a 9/11 Day of Service Proclamation. Explore how your city or town can commemorate 9/11 through a proclamation. A sample proclamation can be found in AmeriCorps’ 9/11 Day of Service Toolkit.
Share on social media. Share your story of service or message of remembrance on social media using the hashtag #911Day.

Service Unites Year Round

In addition to volunteering on 9/11, residents in our communities step up to serve all year long through national service. AmeriCorps engages more than 250,000 people in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors – serving at more than 40,000 locations across the country. They respond to disasters, improve childhood literacy, address public health disparities, improve our public parks, and so much more.

AmeriCorps members and volunteers, including those serving within local governments around the country, address urgent community needs. Those who serve also gain training and perspective that can create pathways to public service careers. We see examples in cities like Philadelphia with PowerCorpsPHL, a City of Philadelphia AmeriCorps program that focuses on the environment, workforce development and youth violence prevention. AmeriCorps empowers Americans of all ages to serve, not only a day of service, but year-round, to meet the most pressing needs in communities around the country. Learn more about the national service footprint in your community.

As we commemorate 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance and serve our communities throughout the year, let’s ensure that what unites us will always outlast what may divide us.

About the Author

Tess Mason-Elder is the Director of Government Relations with AmeriCorps. She has supported AmeriCorps efforts in political advocacy, coalition building, partnership development and national service awareness to address a diverse range of domestic policy priorities since 2015.