National Day of Service Eve

As you all know, another year has passed and September 11th is upon us again. In honor and remembrance of the lives lost at Ground Zero, in the Pentagon, and on Flight 93 eight years ago, this year President Obama has proclaimed September 11th a "National Day of Remembrance and Service."

Accordingly, the OBB VISTAs and HarvestCorps members are traveling to Columbus tomorrow for a statewide service project. This is a bit of a treat for us. Being an AmeriCorps*VISTA is a lot like being a stagehand on a play. We work behind the scenes to make direct service possible in our organizations. So rather than directly handing out food to hungry people, we help organize the food drives. Rather than directly mentoring small children, we recruit volunteers to serve as mentors. Rather than directly using the OBB with clients, we train counselors on how to use the program. In other words, our everyday duties revolve around indirect service.

Tomorrow's direct service project will be a real change of pace for us VISTAs that I hope will be invigorating and fun. From what I've heard, we'll be helping to transform an old convent into a shelter for impoverished mothers and refugees. It's certainly a worthy endeavor and I am proud to contribute to it, but I have mixed feelings about tomorrow's activities. I live and serve every day in Butler County, and I've seen a lot of hardship here. It would be just as worthwhile to roll up my sleeves and spend the National Day of Service right here at home to improve my local community. There certainly is a need for service here, and, as a VISTA, I rarely have the opportunity to get directly involved.

Of course, there is a need in every community across the country to improve the lives of its citizens. That's why I hope all of you will catch the spirit and spend at least a few hours in service to your community and your country tomorrow. Volunteer at your local food pantry, or pick up trash on your street, or even mow your neighbor's lawn--do something to serve someone else. Need some more ideas? Call your local 211 (United Way) to get plugged in to volunteer opportunities.

And after tomorrow is over and it's September 12th, I hope you won't wait until next year to do it again. Service is a mindset, not a date.