The Together We Serve initiative brings the Maryland community together to commemorate the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks with a day of service and action.
The 6th Branch, a nonprofit that utilizes the leadership and organizational skills of military veterans to execute community service initiatives in Baltimore, will participate in service projects that the organization believes will help a rising East Baltimore neighborhood with significant property vacancy.
Located at 1400 Greenmount Avenue in Baltimore City, The 6th Branch volunteers will conduct work benefiting the New Broadway East Community Association.
Sponsored by The 6th Branch, BGE, Constellation Energy, T. Rowe Price, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, McCormick, Legg Mason, Under Armour, Starbucks, PNC, Transamerica and Comcast, projects will range from clearing vacant lots to light demolition, landscaping and improvements to community green spaces.
“The Day to Serve initiative is an excellent opportunity for Marylanders to join together in volunteer efforts, as well as highlight the incredible service and volunteerism that occurs year-round in our state,” said Governor Larry Hogan, who week issued a proclamation declaring September 11 through October 10 as “Day to Serve” month in Maryland.
“Our citizens take great pride in our shorelines and beaches, our communities, and our state, and by working together, we can continue changing Maryland for the better,” Hogan said.
As part of the announcement, Hogan says he is encouraging all Maryland citizens to choose a day to participate in a volunteer activity.
The “Day to Serve” initiative includes Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia, each of which tracks statistics such as number of volunteers, hours served, and pounds of food donated in a friendly competition.
The governor plans to kick off the “Day to Serve” on September 11 at the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET) in Baltimore.
Volunteers from the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, state agencies, and the local community will work alongside the homeless veterans who reside at MCVET on various projects to help uplift and revitalize the center.
In an effort to promote responsible stewardship of our environment and keep Maryland’s shorelines and beaches litter-free, the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives is organizing a statewide waterway clean-up event for Maryland’s waterways, which will take place September 14 and September 15.
With events taking place in all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City, one great example is an event sponsored by the Kent Island Beach Clean Ups planned for Terrapin Beach on September 15, which is also International Coastal Cleanup Day.
To further promote the spirit of volunteerism, Governor Hogan has once again granted four hours of administrative leave for state employees to participate in a volunteer activity of their choice between September 11 and October 10, this year.
In addition to the many state employees who will be participating as individuals, several agencies plan to organize projects throughout the state to encourage employee participation.
“We greatly appreciate Governor Hogan’s continued support of promoting service and volunteerism throughout the state,” said Steve McAdams, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives. “As our office travels to meet with communities around Maryland, we have seen first-hand the incredible impact volunteerism can have by addressing important issues and building lasting bonds.”