Spotlight: 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance and National Preparedness Month

Spotlight

Our spotlight this week is on the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance and National Preparedness Month. Let’s learn more about these exciting opportunities that are available throughout the month of September. Shellie Bensman is our HandsOn Central Ohio’s Disaster Preparedness Coordinator. Below, she explains the all of the projects and how you can get involved!

Please provide a brief background of the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance and National Preparedness Month.
I am very excited to announce that HandsOn Central Ohio has received a grant which will enable us to engage over 1,000 Columbus volunteers in 21 different service projects from September 6^th through September 20^th, in memory and honor of the victims and heroes of September 11^th.

The National 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance is a day that all Americans can join in service to honor the lives that were lost, and to reclaim this date in a positive way. September will be a month of service, and is also National Preparedness Month. The Information & Disaster Preparedness Department at HandsOn Central Ohio is passionate about providing the residents of Franklin County with emergency preparedness information throughout the month of September and year round.

What kinds of volunteer opportunities are available? Can anyone participate?
There are all kinds of projects available, and participation is open to anyone, though some projects do require volunteers to be at least 18 years old. For information on all of our service projects, please visit: www.volunteercentralohio.org and view the “Volunteer Opportunity Calendar.” Scroll to the month of September, and browse all of the service opportunities.

Is there a specific project you would like to highlight?
HandsOn Central Ohio will be participating in the Port Columbus Full Scale Disaster Exercise on Tuesday, September 20^th from 7:30am-4:00pm. This will be a full scale simulation to test disaster response in the case that an emergency arises at the Port Columbus Airport.

Volunteers are needed to act as victims and worried family members, and to make and take calls in the 2-1-1 disaster call center. (Training is required to take calls in the 2-1-1 disaster call center). Food will be provided for volunteers. Link to sign up for this event: http://bit.ly/ir40oy.

What is the impact you hope to make with these projects?
The main focus of the National 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance is to bring attention to the fact that September 11^th is now a national day of service. Families of 9/11 victims feel that the best way to honor the 9/11 victims, survivors and all those that arose in service in response to the attacks, is by having Americans pledge to perform service to others on 9/11 and throughout the month of September.

If a volunteer is unable to make it to any of the scheduled projects, are there other ways they can contribute?
Absolutely. Visit the website http://911dayofservice.org to make a pledge to perform a good deed, post a tribute or support a cause.

How do volunteers sign up? Is there a deadline?

Please sign up to volunteer by registering yourself on HandsOn Connect (www.volunteercentralohio.org), which is HandsOn Central Ohio’s volunteer website. Once you are registered on HandsOn Connect, you will be able to sign up to volunteer for any of our projects listed during the month of September (and anytime after that as well).

Who should volunteers contact if they have any problems?
Shellie Bensman, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator with HandsOn Central Ohio. I can be reached at 614-221-6766 x) 130 or sbensman@handsoncentralohio.org.