Volunteers in Iowa improve garden at an elementary school
Volunteers from Voluntary Action Center in Spirit Lake, Iowa, made improvements to the memorial butterfly garden at Spirit Lake Elementary School. The garden was created in September of 2008 by 81 second grade students and 10 senior citizen volunteers in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger takes part in the National Day of Service and Remembrance
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined Secretary for Service and Volunteering Karen Baker to commemorate the National Day of Service and Remembrance and proclaim the California Day of Service, created to strengthen communities across the state and to remember those who passed on September 11, 2001.

Greater DC Cares volunteers supported 50 non-profit organizations on the National Day of Service and Remembrance
More than 4,500 Greater DC Cares volunteers supported 50 non-profit organizations in service projects across the region on the National Day of Service and Remembrance. The day included a signature service project at RKF Stadium where more than 200 volunteers made 30 + comfort quilts for children of deployed soldiers.

Hands On Central Texas Maximizes Impact with Teamwork
The 9-11 Day of Caring on Friday, September 11 was truly one of the most memorable commemorations of the annual event in history. Hands On Central Texas began the day with a volunteer breakfast, followed by a tribute to those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001.

Timberland Team Spends Sept. 11 in Service
Employees from Timberland, a HandsOn Network supporter, had plans to participate in a service project the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 in the Bronx. The group was headed to revitalize a school when they heard the tragic news of the terrorist attacks. The Timberland employees decided to continue with the project anyway, and they have returned to the Bronx for school renovation projects every September 11 since.

Community Servings: Boston Cares Aids Program to Feed 725 Patients Daily
Community Servings is dedicated to providing free home-delivered meals throughout eastern Massachusetts to people homebound with HIV/AIDS and other acute life-threatening illnesses. The organization prepares and packages 725 meals every day, providing clients who are unable to shop or prepare food for themselves with two daily meals and 2,700 calories daily.

Organic Farming at Gaining Ground
70 percent of the work at the Gaining Ground organic farm in the historic Concord, Mass., is completed by volunteers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds harvesting approximately 20,000 lbs. of organic produce at the farm each growing season.

Access OC provides minimal-risk, outpatient surgery to low-income uninsured patients
The goal of Access OC is to improve the health of vulnerable people by providing access to medical specialists in a high quality, cost-effective manner.

HandsOn Network Supporter Morgan Stanley and Boys & Girls Clubs of America Present Million Meal Summer Program
Morgan Stanley launched the "Million Meal Summer" program to combat the growing number of children who lose access to nutritious meals during the summer.

Pruning, Mulching, and Weeding, Oh My!
Cisco employees decided that they wanted to “make an impact” and not just “write a check” for the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens in downtown San Jose, an area maintained entirely by volunteers.

Family Service Team Instills Love of Volunteerism
Many families spend their weekends at ballparks decked out in team colors, cheering on little league sports teams. Some families in Orange County, however, spend one Sunday a month rallying together as a different kind of team, where the goal is not to win, but to serve.

New York Cares Math Tutors Equal Success
Though many would say the odds are against them, students in New York Cares’ math tutoring program continue to exceed expectations.

The McComber Family
After losing their home to a wildfire, the McComber family decided to use this challenge as an opportunity to rebuild an eco-friendly home that is both fire-safe and resource-efficient. AmeriCorps volunteers from Volunteer San Diego, an affiliate of HandsOn Network, pitched in to help.

Transitioning Foster Youth Spearheads Project to Help Other Foster Youth
“Most teens that come out of the [foster care] system don’t know what to do and don’t have information about the real world. What I want to happen out of all of this is for teens to understand that there is a place and there are people who care..."

GED Tutoring at X-Cel Adult Education
"Knowledge is power, and every time I tutor at X-Cel Education, I’m inspired as I watch motivated people from all walks of life empowering themselves,” said John Mayer, Boston Cares member and project leader for the GED tutoring program at X-Cel Adult Education.

Increasing Income for Working Families / VITA Volunteers
For many families, a tax refund is one of the single largest payments they will receive all year. Tax time is particularly important for low-income families, as it presents an opportunity to increase family income by accessing public benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as well as financial education and asset building tools.