(Washington, D.C.) -- Organizations and volunteers throughout the country are undertaking numerous service projects to commemorate the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

More than 550,000 Americans traveled over the past year to the Gulf region to volunteer in hurricane recovery efforts, according to Corporation, which is compiling statistics on the massive volunteer response to the disaster. Because hurricane recovery is far from complete, the agency has launched the “Serve to Remember. Remember to Serve” campaign, to encourage Americans to continue traveling to the Gulf region on volunteer projects and to serve within their own communities.

“The volunteer response to both these tragic events was awe-inspiring,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “In times of need, Americans truly come together to help each other out. Volunteers have had a significant impact on the pace of the recovery efforts in the Gulf States, and their continued service is greatly needed.”

Below please find a sampling of the hundreds of projects scheduled in honor of the anniversaries:

• St. Bernard Parish – August 26, 2006 – 8am -5pm

Event Details – AmeriCorps*NCCC members will host the “First Annual Hurricane Katrina Day of Service Project” gutting homes and helping prepare schools for the arrival of students. The day’s schedule includes:

• 8am – 9am – Opening Ceremony at Camp Hope gymnasium (speakers to include St. Bernard Parish Department of Recovery John Rahaim, St. Bernard Parish President Junior Rodriguez and a representative of Senator Vitter’s office. Camp Hope is located in the former W. Smith Elementary School at 6701 E. St. Bernard Highway in Violet, LA.
      
• 9am – 12pm and 12:30pm – 4pm – Project Work to include gutting of homes in the Parish with homeowners; work in preparing schools for the arrival of students for the new school year; supervision of operations/logistics for Camp Hope; work in emergency communities preparing volunteer meals; St. Bernard Parish Community Center – painting and repairs

Locations – multiple locations throughout the Parish

• New Orleans, Slidell, Biloxi, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Pascagoula, August 28 - 31

Event Details – KaBOOM! will bring “play” back to the Gulf with a 10 playground builds across the Gulf Coast. Although homes and schools and businesses are slowly being rebuilt, the needs of too many children in the Gulf Coast remain unmet. Finding a safe place to play is difficult if not impossible. This initiative will mobilize thousands of volunteers to build playgrounds from New Orleans to Pascagoula in just four days.

Locations –

• Monday, August 28, 2006 – Nelson Charter School, New Orleans, LA and Second Street Elementary School, Bay St. Louis, MS
      
• Tuesday, August 29, 2006 – John Henry Beck Park, Biloxi, MS and Owen T. Palmer Park (Second St. Park), Gulfport, MS and Pass Christian High School, Pass Christian, MS
      
• Wednesday, August 30, 2006 – Central Elementary School, Pascagoula, MS and Carol Vegas Park, Bay St. Louis, MS
      
• Thursday, August 31, 2006 – Miramar Park, Biloxi, MS and Carolyn Park Middle School, Slidell, LA
      
• New Orleans – August, 28 – 6:30 pm

Event Details - Join the Hands on Network and Tipitina Foundation for the reopening of Mother-in-Law’s Lounge, a historic jazz club in New Orleans. More than 250 volunteers have invested in excess of 2,000 hours to restore this musical landmark.

Location – Mother-in-Law’s Lounge, the corner of N. Claiborne and Columbus

• New Orleans – August 28

Event Details - The National Football League, the United Way and Catholic Charities will lead a tour of devastated areas, as well as Catholic Charities’ programs addressing housing, education volunteerism, and mental health issues.

Location – multiple locations

• Louisiana and Mississippi – August 28 – September 11, 2006

Event Details - AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps (AmeriCorps*NCCC) members will support long-term recovery activities, including mucking out homes, coordinating activities of local volunteers, and offering referral services to people seeking disaster assistance in Chalmette, Abbeville, Cameron Parish, Violet, and New Orleans, La., and in Biloxi, Miss. The members will also serve with Habitat for Humanity in Thibodaux, as well as supporting gleaning projects and food distribution in Lincoln, Mass.

Location – multiple locations

• New Orleans – August 29

Event Details – Catholic Charities with Archbishop Alfred Hughes will welcome 12 faiths for an interfaith service at the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest Cathedral in the United States, to commemorate the lives lost to Hurricane Katrina

Location - 615 Pere Antoine Aly

• New Orleans – August 29 – 10 a.m.

Event Details - Desire Street Ministries, with students, faculty, family and friends, will gather in the former ministry and school headquarters in the Upper Ninth Ward for a time of prayer, remembrance, and thanksgiving lead by executive director and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Danny Wuerffel.

Location - 3600 Desire St.

• Gulfport, MS – August 29-31, 2006

Event Details - Volunteers of America Southeast will hold an Open House at their free medical clinic. This clinic was opened immediately after the storm and continues to serve people in that community today. The clinic is operated by volunteer doctors and has served over 26,000 people since the storm.

Location – Gulfport, MS.

• Hattiesburg, Mississippi – August 29, 2006

Event Details - The University of Southern Mississippi and the Mississippi Higher Education Consortium will hold a commemoration ceremony and service projects at the Hattiesburg campus to reflect on the progress that southern Mississippi has made since Hurricane Katrina struck.

Location – The University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg Campus

• Sevier County, UT – September 5 - 11, 2006

Event Details – Six County RSVP will partner with the Central Utah Regional Citizen Corps Council and the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office to participate in a service project commemorating the anniversary of 9/11. Activities will be held throughout the County to distribute brochures explaining Family Emergency Plans and assist in the preparation and teaching of a CERT course.

Location – multiple locations

• Mandeville, LA – September 11, 2006

Event Details – VoA RSVP of St. Tammany Parish is planning a food drive on 9/11. The dramatic incrase in the Parish has increased the demand for food items post-Katrina. The food will be donated to VoA for Health Services Support.

Location – multiple locations

• Charleston, SC – September 11, 2006

Event Details – Employees of a large corporation will work with the American Red Cross and RSVP to stuff 150 Comfort Dolls that have been made by Senior Corps volunteers. The dolls will be given to children by area hospitals and Disaster caseworkers when they are found to be in a stressful situation.

Location – TBD

The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Providing service opportunities for millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds, Corporation programs include Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

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