http://www.reflector.com/news/answering-call-to-service-827440.html
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Local groups are answering the president's call for a day of service to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Greenville-Pitt County chapter of Rebuilding Together is working today to upgrade the electrical service of a disabled Greenville woman by painting and installing baseboard heating.
Electricians with Chocowinity Electric began work Thursday to rewire the house on West Fourth Street, and about 20 volunteers will work today to do sheetrock and painting work.
Michaele Dodrow, who lives in the house with her son, has been heating the house with a space heater. The new system will be much more energy efficient, said Jamie Jacobson, a board member with Rebuilding Together.
“The headquarters of Rebuilding Together has asked us to do a project related to energy efficiency to mark this first National Day of Service and Remembrance,” Rebecca Sweet, local group president, said.
Rebuilding Together assists in the rehabilitation of homes for low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, without charge. The aim is to preserve affordable home ownership and to revitalize communities.
The new Greenville-Pitt County group completed its first projects in the spring, and will begin accepting applications today for the April 2010 Work Day. Applications will be available at the Lucille Gorham Intergenerational Community Center.
In other efforts, the East Carolina University Wellness Corps held a monthlong drive to collect materials to help children contact their deployed parents with letters or recorded tapes.
Project Heart, a partnership between Pitt County Schools, Martin County Schools, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, West Craven High School, Lenoir County Schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pitt County, also ha been collecting items like paper, stamps, disposable cameras and audio tapes to assist children of deployed National Guard members.
The groups will deliver the items to the National Guard armories in the various counties today.
Today's events also are intended to encourage others to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.
Local AmeriCorps members and the North Carolina National Guard have been working together for a service project to honor military families for the United We Serve's National Day of Service and Remembrance today.
Gov. Bev Perdue signed a Sept. 11 proclamation this week to thank military men and women and applaud the state's community service efforts during the campaign.
“Through this United We Serve project, North Carolina's AmeriCorps members and National Guard have shown that it only takes a small effort to give something back to their communities,” Perdue said.
“By serving — we honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, and we build strong families and strong communities all over North Carolina.”
The National Day of Service and Remembrance, sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, is an effort to honor the victims of 9/11 and their families and to rekindle the spirit of service.
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