September 11, 2001. I’m sure that date brings memories to some or most of you. It is a date that is forever linked in time. You can probably remember where you were and maybe even what you were doing when you heard the news on radio, from someone you know or saw it on television. A plane hit one of the Twin Towers in New York City. For a few minutes we were not sure what was going on, but by the time the second plane hit we knew. We were being attacked!
For me as a school administrator working in Georgia at the time, I can say that in my thirty year career it was the most unusual day I ever spent in school. For the entire day we watched the news unfold, comforted those who thought their mom or dad might be in the Towers or on flight 93; answered phone call after phone call, and that was it. No classes, no gym, field trips were cancelled, nothing else mattered.
Our world changed that day, forever. We now have new terminology and different ways of doing things. We use the phrase, “We live in a Post 9-11 World”; terrorists, extremists, metal detectors, body scanners, Al Qaeda, etc. Even the term 9-11 means something different now. We know about code red and code orange alerts. We travel differently. Heightened security is everywhere.
Again we remember 9-11. But what gets forgotten is what happened shortly thereafter. Do you remember?
Suddenly, literally thousands of emergency personnel were mobilized to deal with the situations in New York, Washington, D.C. and the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Friday, Sept. 14, President Bush made the speech with the bull horn at Ground Zero. An army of volunteers began to mobilize behind these relief efforts. We forgot our differences and bonded together. Remember the flags flying on everything you saw? We were just Americans united in one effort.
Sept. 11, 2011 marks the 10^th anniversary of the attacks. MyGoodDeed.org is organizing what they hope will be a record day of service and remembrance. The goal is to mobilize 32 million volunteers who will honor the memory of those who fell on 9-11.
In honor of the 40^th anniversary of the National RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) Community Action of Southern Kentucky invites you to share this 10^th anniversary of remembrance and service by joining us in a very special project.
Our RSVP volunteers will be collecting items to build at least 100 disaster preparedness kits to donate to at-risk seniors unable to afford to build a kit for their households. All you need to do is collect items between now and Sept. 1, 2011. (See attached list for items that make up a kit.) Drop these items at any Community Action facility or other designated locations within the 10-county service region and our volunteers will build the disaster kits to distribute on 9-11 weekend.
After 9-11, the spirit of service and volunteerism shone like never before. Be part of an historical service event by joining with RSVP in this special endeavor.
Mike Hall, RSVP Project Director
c/o Crystal Bell County Coordinator
Community Action of Southern Kentucky
235 East 4^th Street
Russellville, Kentucky 42276
(270) 726-2459
ABOUT MY GOOD DEED
MyGoodDeed.org, which represents the interests of many 9/11 organizations, was the first group to formally call for Sept. 11 to be designated as a federally-recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Progress was made early when, in 2002, President George W. Bush declared September 11 "Patriot Day" to honor both the victims and heroes of the September 11 attacks, and highlighted the spirit of service by launching USA Freedom Corps. In 2004, Congress unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 473, expressing the sense of Congress that September 11 should be a national day of service and compassion. In 2008 President Bush amended the Patriot Day proclamation to specifically include "volunteering" as an appropriate form of remembrance.
In 2009, Congress, in a bi-partisan, bi-cameral action, passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which for the first time authorized the President of the United States to formally designate 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. On Sept. 11, 2009 President Obama amended the Patriot Day proclamation to officially and permanently make 9/11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance, as requested by Congress and the 9/11 community.
Basic Disaster Preparedness Kit Items
Ends Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011
Note: The items we are collecting below form the basis of a complete disaster preparedness kit. These items will be added to additional items provided by the recipient of the basic kit items collected through the donation period.
What RSVP is Collecting?
Flashlight
Battery powered or hand crank radio ( NOAA Weather Radio if possible)
Plastic surgical gloves (may already be in first aid kit)
First Aid Kit
Multipurpose tool (Leatherman or similar)
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Emergency blankets
Manual can opener
Whistle
N95 or surgical masks
Matches (waterproof) or in a waterproof container
Work gloves
Towels (hand held type)
Duct Tape
Scissors
Local maps
Basic first aid book
Plastic sheeting
Backpacks
Plastic garbage bags
Channel lock pliers (variety of brands)
Plastic bucket w/lid (food grade if possible for safety)