Community encouraged to participate in 9/11 day of service

This is a press release from United Way: Volunteer Southeast Mississippi.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Hattiesburg​ ​residents​ ​are​ ​encouraged​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​a​ ​city-wide​ ​day​ ​of​ ​community​ ​service​ ​and outreach​ ​on​ ​Monday,​ ​Sept.​ ​11​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​9/11​ ​National​ ​Day​ ​of​ ​Service.

Volunteer​ ​projects​ ​will​ ​kick​ ​off​ ​​after​ ​the​ ​city’s​ ​9/11​ ​Ceremony​ ​​at​ ​Fire​ ​Station​ ​#1​ ​on​ ​Main​ ​Street at​ ​8:40 a.m.​ ​This​ ​initiative​ ​is​ ​coordinated​ ​by​ ​​Volunteer​ ​Southeast​ ​Mississippi​ ​at​ ​United​ ​Way​ ​of Southeast​ ​Mississippi,​ ​the​ ​City​ ​of​ ​Hattiesburg​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​Community​ ​Engagement​ ​at​ ​The University​ ​of​ ​Southern​ ​Mississippi.

“September​ ​11th​ ​is​ ​a​ ​day​ ​of​ ​history,​ ​emotion​ ​and​ ​reflection,”​ ​Christy​ ​Arrazattee,​ ​director​ ​of USM’s​ ​CCE,​ ​said.​ ​“For​ ​many​ ​Americans​ ​it​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​day​ ​of​ ​service​ ​that​ ​provides​ ​an​ ​opportunity to​ ​join​ ​neighbors​ ​and​ ​local​ ​leaders​ ​in​ ​volunteering​ ​to​ ​rekindle​ ​the​ ​compassion​ ​and​ ​unity​ ​shown on​ ​that​ ​day.”

Businesses,​ ​schools,​ ​groups,​ ​churches​ ​and​ ​individuals​ ​are​ ​encouraged​ ​to​ ​register​ ​for​ ​volunteer projects​ ​Volunteer​ ​Southeast​ ​Mississippi.

“​There​ ​is​ ​something​ ​for​ ​everyone,”​ ​Emily​ ​Gruzinskas,​ ​Director​ ​of​ ​Volunteer​ ​Southeast Mississippi,​ ​said.​ ​“We​ ​have​ ​opportunities​ ​ranging​ ​from​ ​helping​ ​out​ ​at​ ​the​ ​animal​ ​shelter, home-building​ ​with​ ​Habitat​ ​for​ ​Humanity​ ​and​ ​everything​ ​in​ ​between.”

People​ ​may​ ​also​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​create​ ​their​ ​own​ ​opportunities.​ ​No​ ​effort​ ​is​ ​too​ ​small​ ​–​ ​visit​ ​an​ ​elderly neighbor,​ ​pick​ ​up​ ​litter​ ​around​ ​a​ ​park,​ ​host​ ​a​ ​school​ ​supply​ ​drive​ ​or​ ​bake​ ​cookies​ ​for​ ​first responders.

Sign​ ​up​ ​for​ ​volunteer​ ​opportunities​ ​for​ ​9/11​ ​Day​ ​of​ ​Service​ ​at​ ​volunteersems.org​ ​by​ ​Sept.​ ​5.​ ​​ ​For more​ ​information,​ ​contact​ ​Emily​ ​Gruzinskas​ ​at​ ​Volunteer​ ​Southeast​ ​Mississippi​ ​at volunteersems@unitedwaysems.org​ ​or​ ​601-545-7141,​ ​ext.​ ​4.