MCSC - 2013 September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Mini-Grants Benefit Veterans and Military Families Through Service

2013 September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Mini-Grants Benefit Veterans and Military Families Through Service

The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA), Volunteer Centers of Michigan (VCM), Michigan Campus Compact (MCC), and The LEAGUE Michigan, with support from the Connect Michigan Alliance Endowment Fund and the Corporation for National and Community Service, announced the distribution of $8,810 in mini-grant funds to support 2013 September 11 (9/11) Day of Service and Remembrance projects in Michigan this fall.

Twenty-seven organizations from across the state have been awarded funds to coordinate service projects that benefit local veterans and military families while tackling critical community challenges such as homelessness, hunger, and more. Grants range in value from $170 to $500."Volunteer activities on 9/11 Day allow citizens to honor and remember the heroes of that tragic day while making a difference in their communities,” explained Ginna Holmes, Executive Director of the MCSC. “By providing 9/11 Day mini-grants, we’re able to support 27 different volunteer projects as communities come together in the true American spirit of compassion that was revealed that tragic day.”

The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is the culmination of an effort originally launched in 2002 by 9/11 family members and support groups. By participating in the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, individuals can forever remember and pay tribute to the victims of September 11, honor those that rose in service in response to the attacks, and remind people of the importance of working more closely together to improve the world. The 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance became officially recognized following the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of April 2009.

“We encourage everyone to find a way to serve, honor, and remember on September 11,” said Donna Murray-Brown, President and CEO of MNA. “Getting involved is easy – you can give your time at one of our mini-grant recipient projects, volunteer at a local community site, or simply help out a neighbor or friend.” To find a 9/11 Day service project near you, visit www.volunteermichigan.org and use the keyword “9/11.”

The 2013 9/11 Day mini-grants were awarded to the following organizations:

	City	Organization Name	Project Description
1	Ann Arbor	Leslie Science and Nature Center	Veterans and military familes, as well as other volunteers, will participate in native plant restoration aroudn the facility.
2	Battle Creek/ Kalamazoo	Davenport University – Battle Creek & Kalamazoo Campuses	Community members will participate in a personal items drive from September 1-11. On 9/11, volunteers will package items up into care packages that will be shipped to military personnel serving overseas and/or delivered to veterans at the local VA facility.
3	Battle Creek	Urbandale Elementary	Students will participate in several educational lessons about veterans and then participate in a fleece blanket making activity. Fleece blankets will be personally delivered to veterans at the local VA facility.
4	Battle Creek	Northwestern Middle School	Students will interview local military personnel and community first responders about their experiences on 9/11. Their responses will be used to craft 9/11 tribute art that will be unveiled at community event honoring veterans.
5	Battle Creek	Valley View Elementary	Students will decorate clay pots and then plant them with the help of members of the Air Force. The pots will then be donated to the local VA hospital.
6	Comstock Park	Alpine Elementary Schools	Students will prepare disaster preparedness kits from items donated during a school drive. The kits will then be distributed to local classrooms and the American Red Cross.
7	Detroit	Loyola High School	Community volunteers and students will create comfort boxes for local Hospice veterans and their families.
8	East Lansing	Fostering Academics Mentoring Excellence, Michigan State University	Student volunteers will hold a personal item drive leading up to 9/11. At the close of the drive, the students will assemble care packages that will be provided to local homeless veterans.
9	Flint	Davenport University – Flint Campus	Community members will participate in a personal items drive from September 1-11. On 9/11, volunteers will package items up into care packages that will be shipped to military personnel serving overseas and/or delivered to veterans at the local VA facility.
10	Grand Rapids	Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness	Volunteers will clean up three new facilities acquired by Well House in an effort to prepare them for transitional housing for the homeless.
11	Grand Rapids	Davenport University – Lettinga Campus	Community members will participate in a personal items drive from September 1-11. On 9/11, volunteers will package items up into care packages that will be shipped to military personnel serving overseas and/or delivered to veterans at the local VA facility.
12	Highland Park	Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI)	Youth in the MYOI program will host an Appreciation Luncheon for local veterans, military personnel and their families.
13	Holland	Davenport University – Holland Campus	Community members will participate in a personal items drive from September 1-11. On 9/11, volunteers will package items up into care packages that will be shipped to military personnel serving overseas and/or delivered to veterans at the local VA facility.
14	Indian River	Inland Lakes Schools	Students will clean up the areas around the local veteran memorial sites and host a program for the school about the relationship between the country’s freedom and the military.
15	Iron Mountain	Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency	Local students will write thank-yous for community veterans at the VA Community Living Center. On 9/11, students will visit veterans at the facility and make a craft with them.
16	Kalamazoo	Senior Services, Inc. – Senior Corps	Senior Corps volunteers will create snack packs for local mentally ill veterans in the VA medical facility. Volunteers will deliver these packs to the facility and host an ice cream social for the veterans.
17	Lansing	Lansing City Market	Local AmeriCorps members and volunteers, including those from the VFW National Home for Children, will participate in a river trail beautification process.
18	Lansing	Davenport University – Lansing Campus	Community members will participate in a personal items drive from September 1-11. On 9/11, volunteers will package items up into care packages that will be shipped to military personnel serving overseas and/or delivered to veterans at the local VA facility.
19	Mason	Mason Firefighters Association, Inc.	Volunteers will participate in the Mason Cares volunteer event by caring for first-responder vehicles, donating items to the fire department, and more.
20	Midland	Davenport University – Midland Campus	Community members will participate in a personal items drive from September 1-11. On 9/11, volunteers will package items up into care packages that will be shipped to military personnel serving overseas and/or delivered to veterans at the local VA facility.
21	Mount Pleasant	Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center	Students and volunteers will participate in a variety of activities including volunteering at a local soup kitchen, community food pantry, David Garcia disability education project, making fleece blankets, and making cards for local first responders.
22		Macomb Habitat for Humanity	Community volunteers will perform work and maintenance on five local Habitat for Humanity homes.
23	Royal Oak	PREMBEL Foundation	Volunteers will participate in an invasive species removal on Belle Isle and engage in a community conversation about 9/11.
24	Saginaw	Davenport University – Saginaw Campus	Community members will participate in a personal items drive from September 1-11. On 9/11, volunteers will package items up into care packages that will be shipped to military personnel serving overseas and/or delivered to veterans at the local VA facility.
25	Sault Ste. Marie	Tahquamenon Elementary School	Students will assemble care-kits with assistance of parent and veteran volunteers. The kits will be delivered to troops overseas.
26	Sault Ste. Marie	United Way of Eastern Upper Peninsula	Students will prepare flowers, cards and pins for veteran residents of the local assisted living facility. The items will be delivered to the veterans at a reception at the facility on 9/11.
27	Ypsilanti	Growing Hope	Volunteers and RSVP members will participate in various community gardening activities on 9/11.

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BACKGROUND:

The Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2012-2013, the MCSC is granting more than $7.5 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 23 AmeriCorps programs, and six Volunteer Michigan grantees. The Governor's Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC. The MCSC is housed in the Michigan Department of Human Services, whose mission is to assist children, families, and vulnerable adults to be safe, stable, and self-supporting. The Corporation for National and Community Service grants the federal funding the MCSC administers.

Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) serves nonprofits to advance their missions. With more than 800 members, MNA serves as a statewide network for the sector, a resource center on effective management practices, and as an advocate for the nonprofit community. For more information, visit www.MNAonline.org.

Michigan Campus Compact promotes the education and commitment of Michigan college and university students to be civically engaged citizens, through creating and expanding academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service-learning and civic engagement. For more information, please visit www.micampuscompact.org.

The LEAGUE Michigan is a program for service, service-learning and philanthropy education that builds character and empowers young people to “do good” in their community, the nation and the world. For more information, visit http://www.mnaonline.org/league.aspx.

The Volunteer Centers of Michigan strengthens, develops and connects Volunteer Centers throughout the state. Our goal is to ensure that all volunteer centers have the capacity to positively impact every Michigan community and their citizens through volunteerism. We believe that volunteer centers play a leadership role in mobilizing people and resources to deliver creative solutions to community problems. For more information, visit www.mivolunteers.org.