9-11 Anniversary Call To 'Serve And Remember' In Hudson Valley

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — There may be no better way to honor those who paid the ultimate price on Sept. 11 than by taking the time to give back to our community and those opportunities will be readily available during Volunteer New York's "Serve and Remember" event.

Volunteer New York announced that New Rochelle will be a major hub for their 11th annual 9/11: Serve and Remember event on September 12. This year, the community service event will pay tribute to the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

“Volunteers make invaluable contributions to the life and vitality of New Rochelle, while exemplifying the engaged and generous spirit of our community," Mayor Noam Bramson said in a statement announcing this year's plans. "We are proud to strengthen our ongoing partnership with Volunteer New York and to serve as a hub of activities on this National Day of Service, as together we observe the 20th Anniversary of 9/11."

SEE ALSO: 20th Anniversary Of 9/11 Provides Volunteer Opportunities

All 9/11 Day New Rochelle volunteer hub projects will take place on September 12 during two 90-minute shifts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Spellman Hall on the Iona College campus.

New Rochelle volunteers will create literacy kits that will benefit the 5 Steps to Five nonprofit, which has a mission dedicated to empowering underserved parents and helping them be better prepared to prepare their children starting at birth to do well in school and beyond.

Volunteers can also sign up to create warm, comforting blankets for children who are in a hospital. Blankets are distributed through the Westchester-Rockland Project Linus organization and can easily be assembled by hand by any volunteer. This project uses a no-sew blanket making technique. Children as young as 5 can participate in this event but must be supervised by an adult.

Volunteers who wish to pay tribute to our troops and veterans will have the opportunity to sign up to create cards for deployed soldiers serving overseas, which is coordinated through the local nonprofit United for the Troops.

Advanced registration is required. Before registering, please review the project’s online opportunity description to find out if a project is family-friendly or has requirements, like wearing a mask.

“New Rochelle is a vibrant city of so many caring people and organizations working together to do good,” Volunteer New York Director Jeanette Gisbert said. “We are thankful for the ongoing partnership with the city to support the Volunteer New Rochelle program, which for the past five years has been dedicated to empowering local volunteers with access to meaningful opportunities to serve and participate during major community events like on 9/11 Day, as well as helping them find ways to connect everyday through our website.”

For ways to give back in New Rochelle as part of 9/11 Day or to search dozens of active volunteer opportunities throughout the city as part of the Volunteer New Rochelle program, visit volunteernewyork.org/newrochelle.

9/11 Day was created in 2002 as a way to meaningfully honor the memories of those lost on September 11, 2001 and to inspire Americans and others to do good deeds in support of creating a better and more peaceful world. It’s also a day that is meant to help rekindle the extraordinary spirit of togetherness, volunteerism, and compassion that arose in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy.