LOGAN – Residents and organizations in Cache Valley are getting prepared for 9/11 National Day of Service, created to honor those who were impacted by the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Last year JustServe.org and the cities’ of the valley combined efforts, along with some nonprofits, hosted a successful series of projects.
Gary Anderson, the JustServe coordinator for Box Elder, Rich and Cache County said there are plenty of opportunities to serve.
“The Forest Service, and Common Ground can use a lot of people,” he said. “Really, any project on our JustServe website could count for the National Day of Service.”
The Cache County Senior Citizen Center and Meals on Wheels can use some senior couples, Anderson said.
“I’ve talked to CAPSA, The Family Place and Cache Refugee Immigration Connection and they could all use help,” he said. “The immigrants CRIC serve are all here legally and can use our help assimilating into our country.”
Anderson is on the Cache Community Connection committee and he is expecting them to become more involved with the National Day of Service next year.
“We build a community by helping each other,” he said.
This year United Way of Cache Valley selected Common Ground to help with specific service opportunities. Jimmy Birman, executive director of the organization, said they will be helping Common Ground on Thursday Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. or until they finish.
“We are going to meet at Common Ground to clean-up and do maintenance on their canoes as well as their facilities,” he said. “We have talked to JustServe and listed on their website.”
He said to just show up; no tools needed.
“Common Ground reached out to us and that’s why we are helping them this year,” Birman said.
Hyrum City has three service opportunities listed on JustServe.org.
One project includes spreading bark at Salt Hollow Park located at 350 W. 100 N. in Hyrum. People are asked to bring gloves, flat nosed shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows. Meet at the park at 8 a.m.
The second project is Cemetery upkeep and maintenance. Meet at the Hyrum City Cemetery located at 500 E. Main Street at 8 a.m. for two hours. They are asking people to bring rakes for gathering pinecones and tools for weeding flower beds.
The third project is cleaning up limbs in Canyon Park. Those wishing to help should bring gloves and wheelbarrows. The project begins at 8 a.m. and finishes at 11 a.m.
JustServe.org is a website and an app that links organizations with volunteers looking for opportunities to benefit the quality of life in your community. JustServe is available at no charge for both volunteers and organizations.
JeuneElle Jeffries, executive director of Boys and Girls Club of Northern Utah, said each of the local clubs in Tremonton, Logan and Brigham City are recruiting students from middle and high schools at lunch for projects in their communities.
Cache Valley Humanitarian Center also has opportunities for service. They are located at 420 S. 500 E. River Heights. They can be contacted at cvhumanitrarincenter.org or by phone at (208) 206 2870.
JustServe.org said, “Our ongoing mission is to transform the annual remembrance of 9/11 into a worldwide day of unity and doing good, and to encourage millions of people to remember and pay tribute each 9/11 through the spirit of unity and good deeds that help others and rekindle the extraordinary spirit of togetherness and compassion that arose in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy.”
The organization listed some ideas to get started:
- Write Letters to Military Service Members through Operation Gratitude
- Make Pantry Bags for a Local Foodbank Using Old T-Shirts
- Drive a Senior to a Doctor Appointment
- Do Yard Work for a Senior or Person with a Disability
- Volunteer to Serve on a Community Board or Committee (PTA, neighborhood recreation, etc.)
- Clean Up a Cemetery or Other Public Space
- Leave a Generous Tip for Your Waiter or Waitress
- Index Names on FamilySearch
- Make Treats for Your Local Fire and Police Departments
- Sign Up to Donate Blood
- Sort Through Your Clothes and Donate Some to a Local Nonprofit
- Volunteer to Walk Dogs at Your Local Animal Shelter
- Share the Joy of Reading by Creating a Mini Library
- Write Letters and Cards to Seniors in Care Facilities or Patients in Hospitals
- Find a Local Project on JustServe.org
- If You Already Volunteer Somewhere, Invite Friends to Join You