Friday, July 30, 2010
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Jonathan has lived in Michigan his entire life. A few years ago, he decided the city of Southfield, Michigan, needed an all-volunteer, city-wide organization to help beautify his community. On a fateful day in 2005, Jonathan created The Southfield Parks and Garden Club. He created the Club because too often citizens felt it was someone’s “job” to keep the community clean and beautiful. Jonathan realized that many homes and green spaces were not managed because the homeowner was disabled, unable to work, or didn’t have the means to hire someone.
To help with the creation of The Southfield Parks and Garden Club, Jonathan thought volunteers could help fulfill those needs. Thanks to his previous work experience with English Gardens, a local garden center and landscape company, Jonathan began planning, organizing, and directing the club. Over the years, projects have included planting more than 300 native trees in city green spaces to help the environment; donating fully decorated Christmas trees to needy families; clearing, mapping, and chipping four miles of city park trails; beautifying the yards of nearly 40 qualified residents; initiating annual garden walks to improve community feelings; issuing ten “Fine Place” awards; and many more.
Since Jonathan created the Southfield Parks and Garden Club, he has donated more than 4,000 hours towards its activities. He has also expanded the club to include an organic farm to feed the hungry and coordinated litter pick ups. As part of his efforts, Jonathan was recognized in Michigan as a 2008 Governor’s Service Awards finalist in the category of “Volunteer of the Year.”
This story is submitted by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). The MCSC builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2009-2010, the MCSC will grant more than $7.7 million in federal and state funds to local communities for volunteer activities and programs, such as AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve. The Corporation for National and Community Service grants federal funding that the MCSC administers to its programs.
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Posted on
12/17/2009 2:06:36 PM
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This past September 12, Pepperdine University alumni, parents, and friends took part in service projects around campus, across the nation, and around the world as part of the 21st annual Step Forward Day.
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Posted on
11/30/2009 1:40:46 PM
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The members of Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge #144 in Mosinee have made addressing community needs their top priority.
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Posted on
11/23/2009 3:17:16 PM
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Students in Murtaugh, Idaho are building a community entrance to their town to attract highway passerby’s and highlight their town's natural beauty.
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Posted on
11/17/2009 8:15:44 AM
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In Wimberley, $3 million dollars has been collected through monthly, volunteer-driven Market Days. Since the 1960's, that money has gone exclusivly towards providing important resources to the town and its citizens.
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Posted on
11/13/2009 10:21:50 AM
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College student in Binghamton rally around their community after an unimaginable tragedy.
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Posted on
11/9/2009 10:45:59 AM
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A DC resident joins the President and First Lady by honoring the victims of September 11, 2001 through service.
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Posted on
11/5/2009 2:57:06 PM
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In Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, local youth groups have stepped up to lead local community renewal efforts.
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Posted on
11/2/2009 8:01:00 AM
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The adjustment from Brooklyn to Ajo, AZ was made easier when Maria embraced her responsibility to her community and herself.
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Posted on
10/29/2009 11:26:00 AM
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I became certified as a Guardian ad Litem in Marion County, Florida in April 2009. In case you are not familiar, guardians are volunteers that are appointed to cases where children have been removed from their homes by DCF due to abuse/safety conditions. It is our job to be the voice for the children in the courts and advocate for them.
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Posted on
10/24/2009 12:44:38 PM
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I volunteer at a community Food Bank which serves approximately 2,000 people a week's worth of groceries each month. The need for food has increased about 35% in our community.
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Posted on
10/16/2009 4:29:19 PM
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This year during Ramadan, right before the start of the United We Serve Interfaith Week of Service, the Interfaith Committee at my church, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Virginia, organized an iftar (dinner to break the Ramadan fast) for members of local Muslim communities. More than 60 Catholics and Muslims attended the dinner, a turnout far surpassing our expectations.
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Posted on
10/13/2009 3:20:44 PM
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For low income non-English speaking families, tax season can be a daunting time. In Pinal County, Arizona, Ricardo Banuelos has opened up 16 centers to help residents overcome language barriers and recover the benifits they are entitled to.
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Posted on
10/8/2009 11:26:25 PM
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United States Embassy staff and families in Tokyo, Japan have embraced the State Departments Embassy Community Action Program (ECAP) by leading book drives in local libraries.
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Posted on
10/5/2009 3:08:18 PM
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Professional athletes in Austin, Texas answer the President's call on the first ever National Day of Service and Rememberance.
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Posted on
10/1/2009 10:53:10 PM
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Danielle talks about the challenges ("try getting a physically combative 60 lb. 5 yr. old in a car seat by yourself") and triumphs ("I could see him carrying himself differently") of mentoring 5-year old Tyler, a young boy struck by the instability and stigma of having an incarcerated parent.
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Posted on
9/29/2009 11:16:53 AM
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A Pittsburgh, PA couple takes time out every day to talk to the "Mayor of Main Street."
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Posted on
9/22/2009 9:56:22 PM
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Beverley is a volunteers with Prisoner Visitation & Support in rural West Virginia. Her experiences have allowed her to inspire others and be inspired. Through her visits, she hopes to serve as a role model for those inside and outside of the prison walls.
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Posted on
9/10/2009 9:19:35 PM
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On Monday, Secretary Vilsack was in Zanesville, Ohio for a Rural Tour town hall focusing on green jobs and a new energy economy. After the forum, the Secretary visited Maple Terrace, a public housing facility for low-income senior citizens. He led an interfaith service event highlighting President Obama’s United We Serve volunteerism initiative. Secretary Vilsack joined local Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders to distribute energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) to Maple Terrace residents.
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Posted on
9/9/2009 4:19:22 PM
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As an AmeriCorps Associate at the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) in Binghamton, NY, Dan launched the Dumpster Kitchen and pushed his community to see "waste" in a new light.
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Posted on
9/4/2009 3:23:27 PM
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Sara shares the story of Andrea, a guidance counslor at Vero Beach Elementary School, who used her time off this summer to volunteer with the Social Entrée Meals program at the Senior Resource Association of Indian River County, Florida.
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Posted on
9/3/2009 3:36:30 PM
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Joel Berg at the New York City Coalition Against Hunger works with community volunteers in 3 New York City neighborhoods to organize Community Supported Agriculture Projects - programs that make farm fresh produce accessible and affordable for all income levels.
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Posted on
9/2/2009 3:49:23 PM
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Lucas, a summer intern with the Interfaith Youth Core, questions what it means to serve well as he works in the kitchens of the Chicago Christian Industrial League.
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Posted on
9/2/2009 10:02:52 AM
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As a tornado touched down a few blocks away, volunteers from the Twin Cities Interfaith Youth Leadership Coalition gathered in the basement of a church, and without skipping a beat, continued their work with Groveland Foodshelf.
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Posted on
8/31/2009 8:39:27 PM
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Jim Thome of the Chicago White Sox talks about the White Sox Volunteer Corps and how his team is "stepping up to the plate" in the Chicagoland community.
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Posted on
8/30/2009 8:28:02 AM
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Despite growing up in New Orleans, David never thought there was a reason for him to stay, especially when so much of what he loved about the city had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and crime. David's work with the Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps and Desire Street Ministries camp this summer, however, has made him realize that he plays a big part in the rebuilding of his hometown.
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Posted on
8/27/2009 1:58:20 PM
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Two weeks ago, Oregon residents came together with Clackamas County Volunteer Connection Center, RSVP and local service agencies to discuss who is homeless in the county and why, what is being done to support them and how local individuals and groups could help meet the needs of the community.
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Posted on
8/26/2009 1:40:46 PM
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While completing certification for mediation and facilitation, Rebecca is volunteering as a mediator with the City of David, California's Community Mediation Services. During these tough economic times, she hopes to help those in her community who feel helpless and intimidated by small-claims court.
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Posted on
8/25/2009 7:25:57 PM
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With the help of 800 Dow Chemical Company volunteers, local Bay City, Michigan, volunteers and homeowners, as well as the support of over 30 organizations, 38 homes were revitalized in the Rexer-Jablonski neighborhood in just one week.
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Posted on
8/24/2009 8:27:15 PM
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Once a month, Ed and his son, help prepare a hot meal for 35-40 men, women, and children at the 8th Street Mission in West Memphis, Ark. Every week, he stops by to serve desert and help with dishes. "I feel at home there as I cook, serve the tables, and wash dishes."
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Posted on
8/21/2009 4:00:35 PM
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By simply offering their time and skills through pro bono services, two lawyers helped a senior citizen access benefits she desperately needed.
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Posted on
8/20/2009 7:24:51 PM
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A group of "bored" of middle school students in Ames, Iowa, spend the summer planning a community block party and lay the foundation for a new service-learning club for youth.
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Posted on
8/19/2009 7:10:38 PM
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In response to the President's call to service, members of Lajna Imaillah, the women's auxiliary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, are launching a "Feed the Hungry" program.
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Posted on
8/18/2009 4:18:21 PM
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Regardless of her disability, Blair has always loved community service.
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Posted on
8/17/2009 4:26:36 PM
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Eighteen volunteers put in 4,320 hours a year and serve approximately 25,200 meals at St. John’s Samaritans Table in Stark County, Ohio. The volunteers manage all aspects of the weekly program and make sure that no one leaves the table hungry.
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Posted on
8/14/2009 3:46:11 PM
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As part of their Leadership Morgan Hill class project, the Class of 2009 is organizing a community Volunteer Fair in September that will connect organizations with community members looking for opportunities to volunteer. Their goal is to make their new organization, Volunteer Morgan Hill, and the Volunteer Faire a permanent part of thecommunity.
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Posted on
8/13/2009 6:11:50 PM
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Mary was weary of responding to the President's call to service, but during an afternoon working with special needs children at a local pool, she quickly discovered that volunteering offered much more.
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Posted on
8/12/2009 2:55:29 PM
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On August 6th, nearly 40 volunteers - some as young as 7, donned gloves, grabbed shovels and rakes, and hauled trash to help beautify and revaitalize Milwaukee's 30th Street Industrial Corridor. Many of the community's industrial sites are underutilized and volunteers hope that clean-up projects like this one will help attract new business and revitalize the community.
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Posted on
8/11/2009 5:10:25 PM
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For her July birthday party, Cara M. told friends and family to forget the usual gifts and leis. Instead, she asked guests to bring cans of food for her church's food pantry, reminding them that even in idyllic Honolulu neighbors were struggling with hunger and homelessness.
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Posted on
8/10/2009 5:52:00 PM
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Busy working mom Kenya was driving home from her children's little league game when she wondered, "why don't we have this for service?" To teach her children and others in the community the importance of service and time with family, Kenya came up with the Family Service Team Program.
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Posted on
8/7/2009 4:40:53 PM
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160 Odyssey House staff, clients and community volunteers tackle record breaking rainfall to build a new playground at the Family Re-Entry supportive housing facility in the South Bronx.
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Posted on
8/6/2009 5:02:14 PM
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On July 23rd, in support of United We Serve’s Community Renewal Week, Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ron Sims and Director of White House Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrion teamed up with Teens 4 Good at the East Poplar Urban Farm to harvest potatoes for donation.
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Posted on
8/5/2009 4:17:00 PM
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Disheartened by the state of the local cemetary and the lost memory of past neighbors, a Sumter, SC family takes matters into their own hands.
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Posted on
8/4/2009 4:31:18 PM
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As part of ARAMARK Building Community and United We Serve's Community Renewal Issue Week, Rodney, Domonique Foxworth of the Baltimore Ravens, and 150 other ARAMARK employees spent the day volunteering at the East Baltimore Development Inc (EBDI) Community Center -- a place of great importance to Rodney.
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Posted on
8/3/2009 7:30:20 PM
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In 2006, Kristin teamed up with four of her friends to start Birthday Wish. In the past two and a half years, they have helped over 80 families throw birthday parties for their children. The experience has strengthened her friendships and taguht her that "young people can make a difference." She advises: "Don't think you can't get it done, don't think a task is too big and never give up."
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Posted on
7/31/2009 6:50:11 PM
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For three weeks, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has been collecting men's and women's business attire in an agency-wide effort to donate clothes to unemployed Americans seeking to re-join the workforce.
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Posted on
7/30/2009 5:16:48 PM
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As a part of United We Serve's Community Renewal Issue Week, USDA Deputy Secretary Merrigan worked alongside volunteers at the Cleveland Food Bank to prepare sandwiches for hungry children.
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Posted on
7/29/2009 2:24:44 PM
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A Big Brother volunteer in St. Louis helps out at the MLB All-Star Game
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Posted on
7/28/2009 4:25:52 PM
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Volunteers from the Grand County Senior Center and member of the Delicate Stitchers Quilt Guild give "Children in Crisis" a sense of stability with Love Bags.
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Posted on
7/27/2009 5:13:31 PM
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A week of volunteering in rural Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia opens Abraham's eyes and pushes him to serve in his own community and beyond.
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Posted on
7/24/2009 9:14:56 AM
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In the summer of 2006, saddened by the sight of local schoolyards that had been abandoned by children and occupied by troublemakers and drug users, Marco and Jennifer Chiappetta began reaching out to youth in their community. What started out as a single game of catch has evolved into a powerful mentorship program that is shifting the culture of their neighborhood. On Monday, July 20th the New York Yankees helped celebrate the Chiappettas as part of their HOPE Week.
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Posted on
7/23/2009 10:30:10 AM
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On Saturday, July 11th, over 300 volunteers turned out for the first of a year long monthly Downtown Skidrow Clean Up Initiative in Los Angeles.
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Posted on
7/22/2009 8:25:31 AM
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After Hurricane Katrina, retired businessman Bill Groome wanted to help rebuild New Orleans, his home of 30 years, but knew his best talents were not in the carpentry or construction field. Operation HOPE provided him with the opportunity to put his extraordinary business skills to good use.
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Posted on
7/21/2009 8:27:06 AM
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On June 25th, Molly S headed to a block party, but not for the festivities. Instead, she was busy pre-screening individuals for SNAP (food stamp) benefits - work that she describes as "the most rewarding."
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Posted on
7/20/2009 8:27:01 AM
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This post from the Arizona Republic just scratches the surface of a great story of service, and how we can help increase volunteerism around the nation.
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Posted on
7/17/2009 2:19:41 PM
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The Columbus Crew, the 2008 Major League Soccer champs, took Washington, DC, by storm on July 13. First stop was the White House, where they were honored by President Obama for winning the championship and for serving their community.
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Posted on
7/16/2009 7:10:09 PM
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After watching a news story about his local food bank, Peter N. decided to takle hunger head on and started "One Can a Week."
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Posted on
7/15/2009 5:26:53 PM
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First Lady Michelle Obama helps build a new playground in San Francisco, discusses the importance of service in tackling our nation's greatest challenges and discovers her new favorite tool - the ratchet.
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Posted on
7/14/2009 9:43:40 AM
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On June 22, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan kicked off United We Serve by volunteering with the St. Bernard Project in New Orleans, LA.
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Posted on
7/14/2009 9:43:18 AM
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At a time when many Americans are
struggling with the loss of their job or their home, you can
help meet some of their most basic needs by working to reduce
hunger, secure donated clothing and strengthen community
resources.
How is your volunteer project coming together? How was
your service
experience? Let us know. We want to hear from you.
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