9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance

In honor of the September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance, the Governor’s Office of Community Service encourages Montanans to join statewide  efforts to commemorate 9/11 victims, survivors, and emergency responders.

Citizens are encouraged to participate in the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance by thanking those who served, helping a neighbor in need, or joining a community service project.

“Throughout Montana’s history, we have been blessed with patriots, men and women willing to give of themselves so that this nation, and the freedom upon which it was founded, might live on,” said Lieutenant Governor John Walsh. “Montanans don’t need a reason to serve-- they do it every day and in a variety of ways.  I am truly encouraged to see all of the service events scheduled around our wonderful state, but I am certainly not surprised.”

National Service members in Montana including AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps VISTA and Senior Corps have organized service projects across the state to honor the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance and invite citizens to participate. Events include:

Senior Corps and Food Corps are teaming up in Butte to collect extra produce from community gardens and deliver it to the Butte Emergency Food Bank on Wednesday, 9/11, between 9am and 12pm. Contact Michele Brennick at 406-533-2508.

Senior Corps is hosting a Harvest for Seniors in Miles City and Sidney to collect extra produce and provide it to seniors in need on Wednesday, 9/11. Contact Betty Vail (Miles City) at 406-234-0505 or Karen O’Dell (Sidney) at 406-433-4967.

AmeriCorps VISTA members are holding a toiletry drive in Helena from 3pm to 8pm on Wednesday, 9/11 at Safeway, Albertsons on Fee Street, and Vans Thriftway grocery stores. Contact Jessi Sheava at 406-444-3925.

Senior Corps is providing a Heroes Lunch at Park County Senior Center in Livingston to honor current military and fallen veterans, local law enforcement, fire departments and those in public service from 12:30pm to 1:30pm on Wednesday, 9/11. They will also be collecting gifts for service men and women. Contact Shannon Burke at 406-222-2281 or Brooke Cottongim at 406-333-2276.

AmeriCorps VISTA members are collecting toiletries at grocery stores across town to benefit the YWCA in Missoula on Wednesday, 9/11.

Senior Corps, Human Resource Development Council, and the Gallatin Valley Food Bank are hosting a joint Blanket Drive at the mall in Bozeman on Wednesday, 9/11.  

A full list of service activities can be found here or at serve.mt.gov.

The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is the culmination of efforts originally launched in 2002 by the 9/11 nonprofit MyGoodDeed with wide support by the 9/11 community and leading national service organizations. This effort first established the tradition of engaging in charitable service on 9/11 as an annual and forward-looking tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors, and those who rose up in service in response to the attacks.

In 2009, Congress designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under bipartisan federal law, and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with helping to support this effort across the country.

The Governor’s Office of Community Service expands and promotes national service and volunteerism in Montana and engages citizens in service and emergency preparedness.