The Virginia Service Foundation is proud to award 10 mini grants to organizations planning events for the 9/11 Day of Service. Established in 2007, the Virginia Service Foundation supports several initiatives each year to extend the work of the Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism. The Day of Service mini grant program offers $250 awards to eligible organizations to support service projects that engage community members in volunteerism in recognition of the National Days of Service, 9/11 and MLK Day.
2023 Awards
Hanover Youth Service Council (Ashland): The Hanover Youth Service Council will create cards with personalized messages to the approximately 400 career and volunteer members of the Hanover Fire & EMS staff thanking them for their service to the community. During the week of September 9-15, Council members will deliver the cards, along with one small gift basket of communal snacks to each of the 16 Fire & EMS stations in Hanover. This project will connect the members of the Hanover Youth Service Council with Hanover County first responders, and provide a chance for civic reflection through their discussions with them during the project. The project also will connect to 9/11 Day of Service by honoring current first responders, both career and volunteer, in memory of those lost or injured as a result of 9/11.
Learn more about the Hanover Youth Service Council here!
Dan River Year AmeriCorps (Danville): The AmeriCorps members from the Dan River Year and REACH AmeriCorps programs will assemble and distribute custom water bottle labels and small tokens of appreciation for first responders and school resource officers to distribute at a 9/11 event in partnership with Averett University. In recognition of the dedication and commitment of first responders, the members plan to take this opportunity to let emergency staff know how much they are appreciated, as well as remind others about their important roles and remember fallen responders.
See the latest event details here, or contact Dana Silicki at dana.silicki@ialr.org
Volunteer Alexandria (Alexandria): In partnership with local organizations, Volunteer Alexandria plans to celebrate National Preparedness Month by engaging in community outreach and education to equip residents with the knowledge and resources to stay safe in case of a natural disaster or community emergency. By empowering local residents to prepare for emergencies and support neighbors, family members, and friends, the project will ease the burden on first responders when a disaster strikes by making sure as many people are able to help themselves.
Join upcoming opportunities with Volunteer Alexandria here!
Start 1 Spark (Henrico): Start 1 Spark's Fuel for Fun program engages volunteers in assembling snack kits for middle school student-athletes. Start 1 Spark partners with area middle schools in which 60-70% of their population qualify for free or reduced price meals. The Fuel for Fun program provides a healthy snack for student-athletes to sustain them from the end of school to game time. In addition to the snack, volunteers include an uplifting message to support athletes’ mental health as well. The Fuel for Fun program is an opportunity for community members of all ages and abilities to make a difference in their hometown. Volunteers are asked to reflect on their experience with sports and other extracurricular activities and the skills like leadership, communication, and collaboration they learned through participation. This reflection is then shared with student-athletes on a notecard placed in each snack kit.
To learn more about Start 1 Spark, click here!
Kids Give Back (Annandale): An annual event hosted by Kids Give Back, "You've Got This! Welcome Baskets for Teachers" brings the community together to assemble gifts for teachers who work at Title 1 schools. This service project began when teachers returned to the classroom after the pandemic and continues to grow in popularity. The baskets include teabags, handmade crafts, inspirational notes, healthy snacks, self-care items, and more. The goal is to show our appreciation and to help set the stage for a positive school year. Children attend the basket assembly with their caregivers and truly enjoy the opportunity to give back to teachers during this weekend of service.
Veterans and Athletes United (Chesterfield): The Fallen Heroes Memorial will be displayed at Fort Gregg-Adams stadium during the Run for the Fallen 5k and other memorial events throughout the weekend. The all volunteer-veteran run non-profit, Veterans and Athletes United, completed a traveling Fallen Heroes Memorial in 2018. It is a a large 28- wide by 6- tall American Flag designed out of over 7000 dog tags with names of those soldiers who have fallen in the war on terror. It has 50 gold stars for families nationwide that have lost their loved ones in the war. There is a battlefield cross (helmet, rifle and boots) carved out of one piece of mahogany wood by a female veteran artist that sits in front of the flag. Since 2018 this memorial has traveled to 60+ plus locations East of Mississippi to include ground zero in New York City for the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Washington DC in front of the Lincoln Monument over Memorial Day weekend and veterans day, the Army Navy football game and many other locations.
To learn more about the memorial, visit Veterans and Athletes United here.
King of Kings Lutheran Church and Preschool (Fairfax): Over 40 volunteers will be recruited from the Fairfax community to make 10,000 meals in partnership with Rise Against Hunger. As a growing global organization, Rise Against Hunger intends to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives, and responding to emergencies. This event is open to all volunteers, and lunch will be provided to promote community relationships.
Stay up to date on details for this event here.
Village to Village, Inc. (Harrisonburg): Village to Village sets up homes when refugee families comes through the local refugee resettlement office. The organization has teams that help pull all the needed items donated by the community and set up the home. This involves making beds, setting up the kitchen and living room, and making sure there are school supplies, books, and games for the children. When items are not available, Village to Village purchases missing items as far as the budget allows so the families can use their stipends on other important expenses like rent, utilities and food. Village to Village also offers volunteer opportunities for youth and day camp for families to participate in.
See how you can get involved here!
New Song United Methodist Church (Mechanicsville): Mission of Hope and New Song United Methodist Church will partner to engage over 300 volunteers in preparing 60,000 meals. Participants are invited to make a local and global difference, by bringing donations for the local food pantry and preparing meals to address hunger in international communities. The event is planned to foster community partnerships among neighbors, local congregations and church members through this unique service opportunity.
Get more details and sign up for this event here!
NEST4US (Ashburn): NEST4US, along with the nonprofit Agape Love in Action, is hosting "9/11 Day of Service Hope In a Bag'' community give-back event, a large-scale service project to support neighbors in need! This event will engage volunteers in packing over 5,000 food bags for families in need across the Washington Metro Area. The event will be held on September 2 at First Baptist Church of Sterling, and welcomes volunteers to sign up or monetary donations to support the project.
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