Congratulations to the awardees!
The Virginia Service Foundation is proud to award 10 mini grants to organizations across Virginia in support of 9/11 Day of Service. Check out these Day of Service events, or find an event near you! Use the AmeriCorps Volunteer Search, powered by VolunteerMatch, to find an opportunity near you. When searching volunteer opportunities for 9/11 Day, please click the “9/11 Day” box in the search tool to filter.
Capital Caring Health
Capital Caring Health will engage volunteers in making no-sew patriotic blankets for veteran hospice patients. 20-50 volunteers will create and present the blankets to veteran patients on the 9/11 Day of Service. These blankets are presented in coordination with other recognition efforts to honor veterans’ service, and is a meaningful way to honor and support their sacrifice. Learn more about volunteering with Capital Caring Health here.
Center for Civic Engagement @ Shenandoah University
The Center for Civic Engagement at Shenandoah University will partner with Bright Futures, the Winchester Fire and Rescue Department, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Department to host a Community Safety Fair. The Community Safety Fair will provide support for the police, fire and rescue organizations, and specifically foster positive relationships with the children of our community. Student volunteers will assist the organizers in preparation and on the day of the event. If you are interested in attending or volunteering at the Community Safety Fair, please check it out on September 11, 11am-3pm!
Child Health Investment Partnership of Roanoke Valley
The CHIP of Roanoke Valley will partner with community volunteers to create a reflection garden to provide a calming outdoor space to benefit individuals and families. CHIP provides a wide variety of programs for families, and the reflection garden will be especially useful for mental health and family strengthening programs. To learn more about CHIP programs or volunteering with CHIP, check them out here!
Clinch Valley Community Action, Inc.
The AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP and Senior Companion Programs at the Clinch Valley Community Action supported a community-wide back to school supply drive to benefit the families affected by the severe flooding on the evening of 7/12 and early morning of 7/13. Hundreds of homes were destroyed or uninhabitable, and the collected supplies helped alleviate part of the financial cost burden of the back to school season. For more information about Clinch Valley Community action, see their website here.
Farmville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
The Farmville Alumnae Chapter members will create “Blackout Boxes” for the children in Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Prince Edwards, and Nottoway Counties. These counties are at higher risk to lose electricity during severe weather, and these kits will help families be prepared for emergencies by supplying resources for the children during a potential blackout. These boxes will contain a small number of needed supplies during a blackout such as a small flashlight with batteries, a small snack, card game, Play-doh, toothbrushes, crayons, and etc. In addition, these boxes will also help with the mental health of children during a stressful event such as a blackout. Providing these small items will help in distracting the students from the stress of being in a house without lights and the inability to move about as usual. The goal is to pass out 75 -100 “Blackout Boxes” to children in the local area during one of the voter registration and information event. The Chapter will also host an information session on how to prepare for blackout by disseminating information on how to create a family blackout box and providing blackout boxes for children. To learn more or connect with the Chapter, see their website here.
Dan River Year AmeriCorps
The Dan River Year AmeriCorps program, hosted by IALR, will engage AmeriCorps members and community volunteers in an event at Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center on 9/12/22 at 2PM. Members will have art supply stations set up outside (weather permitting) and nursing home residents who would like to participate will come outside and paint with members and volunteers, while also using it as an opportunity for community dialogue about the lasting impact of 9/11. At the beginning, we will have opening remarks regarding the events of 9/11 and a moment of silence. Learn more about Dan River Year AmeriCorps or reach out to attend the event here.
Shalom Farms
Shalom Farms will engage volunteers in a project to increase the ability to provide fresh food year round to communities that are food-insecure, or lack the needed access to healthy foods. Participating volunteers will learn more about the social determinants of health and the work of Shalom Farms, and engage in building curing shelves out of reclaimed materials to reduce food waste and increase the amount of produce that can be distributed through programming. Shalom Farms partners with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities to distribute over half a million servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each year, and these curing shelves will ensure that more produce continues to get into the hands of those that need it the most. To volunteer with Shalom Farms, check out their volunteer page here.
Southern Area Agency on Aging
The Southern Area Agency on Aging is hosting the 7th Annual Miles 4 Vets Golf Tournament on September 9th. This annual fundraiser provides resources to support the Miles 4 Vets program, which provides free transportation for local veterans (covering Martinsville/Henry County, Danville/Pittsylvania County, Franklin and Patrick Counties) to the VA Medical Centers and other out of town appointments. The mini grant will support the Golf Tournament and the Miles 4 Vets program that serves an average of 60 veterans each year, completing about 700 one way trips annually. To learn more, check the event out here.
Volunteer Fairfax
Volunteer Fairfax’s annual VolunteerFest brings together local nonprofits and volunteers for a community-wide series of service events. Volunteers complete family-friendly projects that benefit area nonprofit and government partners that support a variety of community needs. Last year, over 1,000 volunteers completed more than 30 virtual, at-home, and in-person service projects. This year’s event will begin with a virtual welcome launch on Patriot’s Day, September 11, and culminate with in-person service on September 17 – honoring both Constitution Day and National Clean-Up Day. Throughout the week, there will be virtual and at-home projects focusing on, among other issues, food insecurity, youth development, hospice care, and animal welfare. VolunteerFest is supported by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and opportunities to serve will be available in every supervisory district. Get involved here.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Rappahannock
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Rappahannock will host a grand opening for their recently constructed playground as a welcoming space for their community. The objective of the event is to celebrate the new playground as a safe, fun place where children can gather, and serve as a space for community building. The Grand Opening on Sept. 11 will engage the public (parents, siblings, family members, neighbors) to have fun at the playground from 1 to 3pm. Community members will get the chance to get to know one another, and build relationships. To participate, find more details here.
What is 9/11 Day of Service?
The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance (9/11 Day), is a chance to help others in tribute to those killed and injured on September 11, 2001, first responders, and the countless others who serve to defend the nation’s freedom at home and around the globe.
Beginning in 2002, family members who lost loved ones lead the effort for an appropriate and fitting tribute to honor their loved ones and those who volunteered to serve our country in response to the tragedy. The leadership and efforts of these family members resulted in the legislative establishment of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance in April of 2009. AmeriCorps was charged with supporting this effort across the county.
Each year, AmeriCorps works with 9/11Day.org, state service commissions, and faith-based, local, and national organizations to expand volunteering that honors the sacrifice of the families affected by September 11, 2001.
Mini Grant Opportunities
The Virginia Service Foundation offers mini-grants throughout the year to any public or private nonprofit organization, serving the Commonwealth of Virginia, including faith-based and other community organizations, public or private schools, institutions of higher education and government entities.
Qualifying organizations may be eligible for an award of up to $250 to use towards hosting a service project for the 9/11 Day of Service and the MLK Day of Service. For more information about these funding opportunities, please sign up for the Volunteer Virginia Monthly newsletter.
Virginia Service Foundation 