Delegate Service Day – August 27, 2008
Delegate Service Day – the first event of its kind at a Democratic National Convention – occured on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008. The day was coordinated by the Democratic National Convention in conjunction with Democrats Work; Metro Volunteers, an affiliate of HandsOn Network; ServiceNation; and Volunteers of America.

Roughly 1,400 volunteers participated in service projects at one of 29 sites throughout metropolitan Denver. The projects range from child mentoring and literacy support to neighborhood revitalization and park refurbishment, landscaping, tree planting, painting and school revitalization.

The collective impact of these projects will demonstrate not only the power of service and civic participation, but is a testimony to commitment to service and volunteerism as a strategy for 21st Century civic leadership. The aim is to inspire millions of Americans in a renewed commitment to service, which is an important aspect of the array of solutions needed to address the challenges our communities face. From education, the environment, public health, fighting poverty to supporting communities recovering from disaster, it is individuals who volunteer that make the difference.

Building on the momentum of the day, the delegates and volunteers are encouraged to take the knowledge and power of Delegate Service Day back to their local communities and to get involved -- from individual volunteering, organizing their own service projects to becoming a volunteer leader.

As a Delegate Service Day partner, HandsOn Network believes that a stronger, more responsive volunteer community is one of the best strategies to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. Contact a local HandsOn affiliate for more information on how to continue the momentum of Delegate Service Day, and join thousands communities around the nation for ServiceNation’s Day of Action and help shape our nation’s future through citizen service and civic engagement at: www.servicenation.org.

The following are Delegate Service Day projects:

Education and Youth

• Force Elementary School playground build and landscaping
• Court Appointed Special Advocates joint learning session with emancipated youth
• Family Tree House of Hope shelter for women and children volunteering
• Write Letters to Incredible Kids letter-writing campaign
• YouthBiz offices moving party
• Cole K-8 School volunteering
• Warren Village’s Greta Horwitz Learning Center volunteering
• Manual High School joint learning session
• The Spot urban youth center volunteering
• Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library reading to children

Environment

• Cherry Creek State Park revitalization
• Curtis Park neighborhood clean-up
• Bicentennial Park revitalization
• Stapleton neighborhood clean-up and graffiti abatement
• Confluence Park restoration and beautification

Public Health

• Visiting Nurse Association volunteering and making blankets for patients
• Brent’s Place facility clean-up and maintenance
• Sunset Towers senior living facility volunteering
• Sunset Park Senior Center meal preparation and serving
  

Poverty

• Women’s Bean Project
• Project CURE humanitarian relief through medical supplies
• Denver Urban Ministries food pantry sorting and emergency food packing
• Denver Rescue Mission meal preparation and serving
• Meals on Wheels food sorting and packing
• Trinity Methodist Church feed-the-hungry lunch program volunteering
• Volunteers of America Mission providing clothing and food to families