OCES' Mayflower RSVP Honors Troops for September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the regional agency that serves older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, continued the tradition of writing letters to the troops for September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. OCES’ Mayflower Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) had over 60 volunteers write more than 100 letters that were included in care packages for service members overseas.

OCES’ Mayflower RSVP partnered with the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund to provide letters for care packages which were assembled on the Rose Kennedy Greenway on September 11, 2015. Volunteers from various agencies and businesses built 1000 care packages for our troops serving overseas and local veterans in need. Letter writing events were held with OCES partner agencies including local Councils on Aging in Halifax, Hanover, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Lakeville; the Bridgewater, Brockton, and Stoughton Housing Authorities; Cornerstone Assisted Living in Canton; plus OCES staff & their families. Volunteers included children and grandchildren, which made it a multi-generational event.

“This is the third year that our volunteers have embraced this meaningful activity,” said Darcy Lee, OCES’ Volunteer Program Manager/RSVP Project Director.

In 2009, Congress designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) with supporting this effort across the country. CNCS provides tools and resources for organizations and individuals to become engaged in service activities, including grants to organizations to support volunteer projects.

“September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is an opportunity to honor and thank our troops who serve and protect us. By writing letters to troops overseas, we express our gratitude and continued support for them, and create meaningful connections,”said Diana DiGiorgi, OCES’ Executive Director.

For more information about OCES, call 508 584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.