In March, Congress designated September 11, 2009, as a “National Day of Service and Remembrance.” This important day will serve as the culmination of “United We Serve,” an 81-day national service initiative launched by the President and First Lady in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Through the United We Serve initiative, Americans are connecting with service opportunities in the communities and donating millions of volunteer hours. In Arkansas, volunteers have participated in hundreds of projects, from community clean-ups and mentoring at-risk youth to logging flight time as members of the civil air patrol.
As part of this effort, Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe is leading a statewide service project, planned for the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, 2009. “Together We Read” is a one-day event that will spotlight the importance of literacy and the need for adult involvement in schools. Sponsored by the First Lady in association with the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Volunteerism, the Arkansas Department of Education, Rotary International, and City Year; “Together We Read” aims to have volunteers reading to students in every Arkansas elementary school on September 11.
“Arkansans are well known for our generous spirit,” said First Lady Ginger Beebe, “and the National Day of Service and Remembrance presents an opportunity for our State to lead by example through an initiative that combines two causes that are vital to Arkansas, volunteerism and literacy.”
Mrs. Beebe encourages every elementary school in Arkansas to participate in this event and urges parents and other community leaders to donate an hour on September 11th to read to a class. Local Rotary Clubs will begin instructing members to reach out to the schools soon. To find out more about United We Serve and to investigate volunteer opportunities in Arkansas, visit http://www.serve.gov.
To register a school on the Web site for the September 11th Day of Service, click on the “Register Now” button on the right side of the screen. A contact person needs to be assigned to each school to maintain and update the volunteer and registration information. The First Lady encourages local patrons to register on the Web site as volunteers, as well, and sign up for the Together We Read event. For questions about registration or the initiative, contact Marilyn Henderson, Program Officer with the Arkansas Service Commission, at 501-682-6717 or by email at Marilyn.henderson@arkansas.gov
Community support and participation make schools stronger.