WHITE PLAINS, NY — In honor of those whose lives were lost or forever changed by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, County Executive Robert P. Astorino will join with Volunteer New York! and Robison Oil to host the “9/11 Day Serve + Remember” volunteer opportunities from Friday, September 9, through Sunday, September 11, 2016. Service projects will kick off from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 9, at the County Center in White Plains, and will run throughout the weekend at locations across Westchester and the surrounding area.
Westchester County’s formal 9/11 memorial ceremony at “The Rising” at Kensico Dam in Valhalla will begin at 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 11. As always, the public is invited to attend.
“On the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we as a community continue to come together in remembrance and unity, proving that love and service will always prevail,” Astorino said. “Last year we had 1,200 volunteers put 1,670 hours of service back into the community as part of 9/11 Day. This year offers so many great ways to volunteer, whether it’s giving blood, feeding the hungry, educating our children or thanking our veterans. I hope you’ll all join us in remembrance.”
The theme of this year’s 9/11 Day is “Service. Empathy. Unity.” Many volunteer opportunities are family friendly and all will help support one of 40 local non-profits and causes. Register online at www.volunteernewyork.org/service or call (914) 948-4452 for more information.
Westchester County will also host its annual employee blood drive in partnership with the New York Blood Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, September 9, at the County Center. To sign up or learn more, please contact Janet Lokay at jel1@westchestergov.com or (914) 995-2127.
“Join us as we remember the unity and compassion that was shared by the many first-responders, blood donors, and volunteers who came together after 9/11. And help us shine our light on the service and empathy that carries us forward,” said Alisa H. Kesten, Executive Director of Volunteer New York! “We encourage families, individuals and business groups to register today to honor the lives of those lost through these individual acts of service.”
David Singer, president of Robison Oil, the presenting sponsor, said: “Our company, Robison, was built on service – service to our customers and our community. That is why Robison is honored to be able to support this important day for families and individuals of all backgrounds to join together and volunteer. This is an important day in our community to serve and take action.”
9/11 Day Volunteer Opportunities at the Westchester County Center on Friday, September 9, 2016
Book Drive to Benefit Young Readers (2pm-5pm)
Supports Open Door Family Medical Center
New Rochelle Youth Book Drive (2pm-5pm)
Supports My Brother’s Keeper
Blood Drive (9am-4pm)
Supports New York Blood Center
Join the Westchester Medical Corps (2pm-5pm)
Supports Westchester County Department of Health
Be An Organ Donor (2pm-4pm)
Supports LiveOnNY
Join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry (2pm-4pm)
Supports New York Blood Center
Make Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches for Food Pantry (2-3:30pm / 4-5:30pm)
Supports One Sandwich at A Time
Donate, Sort and Package Diapers for Westchester Diaper Bank (2-5pm)
Supports Junior League of Central Westchester
Create No Sew Fleece Blankets (2-3:30pm / 4-5:30pm)
Supports Project Linus
Create Literary Enrichment Activities (2pm-3pm)
Supports Leake & Watts
Create Rainbow Fish Literacy Kits (2-3:30pm / 4-5:30pm)
Supports WestCOP
Thank a First-Responder (2-3:30pm / 4-5:30pm)
Supports United for the Troops
Create #DadBeThere Artwork (2pm-5pm)
With Westchester County Department of Social Services
For a complete list of the 40 local 9/11 Day service projects, locations and their descriptions, which are scheduled from Friday, Sept. 9 – Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, please visit www.volunteernewyork.org/service.
2016 9/11 Day Participating Non-profits and Causes Include:
Afya Foundation, A-HOME, Atria Senior Living – Briarcliff Manor, Community Service Associates, the #DadBeThere Fatherhood Initiative, Dominican College Project, Family Services of Westchester: The Sharing Shelf, Girl Scouts, Graham Windham, Hillside Food Outreach, Humane Society of Westchester, Junior League of Central Westchester, Leake & Watts, Life Progressive Services, Live On New York, Meals on Wheels, Mercy College, Montrose Veterans Hospital, My Brother’s Keeper, My Second Home, New York Blood Center, One Sandwich At A Time, Open Door Family Medical Center, Operation Gratitude, Ossining School District, Our New Way Garden & Acorn Organics, Pace University Project, Project Linus, Ronald McDonald House of GHV, Rye Nature Center, Schaffer Extended Care Center, Teatown Lake Reservation, United for the Troops, Volunteer New York! Hunger Relief Corps, Westchester County Health Department, WJCS Kids’ Closet, Westchester Parks Foundation, WestCOP and Worldwide Community First Responder, Inc.