Volunteer Opportunities Still Available for Westchester's 9/11 Day

With the 15th anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon fast approaching, there are still “9/11 Day: Serve + Remember” volunteer opportunities available from Friday through Sunday.

9/11 Day is the brainchild of the victims' family members who believed that given the tragedy and heroism associated with the attacks, the best way to mark the anniversary is to remember the innocent lives lost and join with others in service to address local community needs, reclaiming that same spirit of unity that transpired in the wake of the terrorism, according to Volunteer New York!

This year, service projects will take place from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the County Center in White Plains, and also throughout the weekend at locations across Westchester. Many opportunities are family friendly and all will help support one of 40 local nonprofits and causes.

Register online here or call (914) 948-4452 for more information.

“On the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we as a community continue to come together in remembrance and unity, proving that love and service will always prevail,” County Executive Robert P. Astorino said in a statement about the three-day effort. “Last year we had 1,200 volunteers put 1,670 hours of service back into the community as part of 9/11 Day. This year offers so many great ways to volunteer, whether it’s giving blood, feeding the hungry, educating our children or thanking our veterans. I hope you’ll all join us in remembrance.”

The theme of this year’s 9/11 Day is “Service. Empathy. Unity.”

“Join us as we remember the unity and compassion that was shared by the many first-responders, blood donors, and volunteers who came together after 9/11. And help us shine our light on the service and empathy that carries us forward,” said Alisa H. Kesten, Executive Director of Volunteer New York! “We encourage families, individuals and business groups to register today to honor the lives of those lost through these individual acts of service.”

Westchester County will also host its annual employee blood drive in partnership with the New York Blood Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday at the County Center. To sign up or learn more, please contact Janet Lokay at jel1@westchestergov.com or (914) 995-2127.

For every one whole blood donation, up to three lives can be saved. The top users of blood transfusions are cancer patients, premature babies and trauma patients, said Bill Bello of the New York Blood Center.

“Every day, the New York Blood Center has to provide 2,000 units of blood to some 200 area hospitals,” Bello said. “That’s why we run blood drives every day of the year. And the one here on Friday is no exception, providing blood for the critical needs of people in the community.”

For the second year in a row, Robison Oil is the presenting sponsor of “9/11 Day: Serve + Remember.”

“No other event creates the sense of community and togetherness that this volunteer effort does,” said David Singer, president of Robison Oil. “This day reminds all of us at Robison, that service is what we are all about.”

Westchester County’s formal 9/11 memorial ceremony at “The Rising” at Kensico Dam in Valhalla will begin at 7 p.m. on Sunday. As always, the public is invited to attend.

IMAGE via Volunteer New York!