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Make Service Your Valentine’s Gift
By Greg Tucker
So, tomorrow is Valentine's Day and florists will be scrambling to fill orders and chocolate consumption is expected to rise by maybe a jillion percent. Suppose we take this day dedicated to love and use it to show that we have big hearts by serving or giving to others? 
Take a moment to look over some ideas for a more giving Valentine's Day that can create memories that last long after that flower arrangement has wilted.
Let's Get It Started: You may be anxious about jumping in if you're new to volunteering. Some groups are holding orientation sessions to discuss the many ways you can get involved with service. You can follow a long lunch with an orientation session with New York Cares or learn more about opportunities before dinner at a Jersey Cares Orientation in Newark. These are two of the organizations working alongside national service members to help area residents affected by Hurricane Sandy.
If I Had a Hammer: It takes a lot of coordination to do the work Habitat for Humanity does to create-low-cost housing opportunities. Habitat Greater San Francisco is hosting an all-day warehouse prep session tomorrow to help them continue their work in the area, you can learn more about the project by visiting their site.
Make a Stand: Volunteering together doesn't take a lot of effort; you just need to make time to help. The group 1 Billion Rising will hold events tomorrow across the country tomorrow to end violence against women, and the Atlanta event is looking for volunteer support.
Give to a Good Cause: There are thousands of aid and advocacy groups working to solve problems across the country. Whether the issue is feeding the hungry, educating needy students, eradicating a disease that has affected someone in your life, or something else, Valentine's Day would be a great day to help the cause with a donation.
We'll Take an IOU: If you're busy tomorrow, we're sure that your help would be welcomed later by any of these organizations, and you can use our search engine find volunteer opportunities all year long.
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Posted on
2/13/2013 |
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Service News Digest: CNCS in the News
The Service News Digest is a regular feature on the Serve.gov blog. In this series, we showcase articles that feature national service and Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) programs. Take a look at some of the great stories that had people talking recently.
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Posted on
2/11/2013 |
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Weathering the Worst Winter has to Bring
The blizzard that whacked the Northeast last weekend paralyzed the hardest-hit areas, and created a gigantic task for workers mobilized to clear roads and restore electricity to areas that lost power. The storm is a reminder that this season can pack a punch, and we need to be prepared to handle winter’s wrath.
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Posted on
2/11/2013 |
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Harris Wofford to Receive the Presidential Citizens Medal
The Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, recognizes American citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. Sen. Harris Wofford will be honored along with other recipients at a White House ceremony on Friday, Feb. 15.
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Posted on
2/8/2013 |
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FEMA Corps Member Brings Sandy's Lessons to White House
The chance to get in on the ground floor and build something new attracted recent college grad Ben Barron to the FEMA Corps AmeriCorps NCCC unit. Last fall his class went to work with the Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery effort in New York, where he learned a lot about himself and the strength of the human spirit.
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Posted on
2/8/2013 |
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More Scenes from the MLK Weekend of Service
A new video and photos from the National Day of Service and Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service show the enthusiasm of people around the nation as they used the time to volunteer during the holiday weekend.
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Posted on
2/7/2013 |
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Service News Digest: CNCS in the News
The Service News Digest is a regular feature on the Serve.gov blog. In this series, we showcase articles that feature national service and Corporation for National and Community Service programs. Take a look at some of the great stories that had people talking recently.
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Posted on
2/4/2013 |
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Mayors Put Service on the Line for Super Sunday
As the big game between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers approaches this Sunday, the mayors from those cities are taking a different approach to the traditional, friendly wager. This year, the focus will be on volunteering and community service.
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Posted on
2/1/2013 |
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Service News Digest: National Day of Service and MLK Day
The Service News Digest is a regular feature on the Serve.gov blog. In this series, we showcase articles that feature national service and Corporation for National and Community Service programs. This week, we’re focusing on some of the great stories about the National Day of Service and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service from around the nation.
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Posted on
1/26/2013 |
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A Great Weekend for National Service
This weekend was a major moment for national service, and I want to share some of the many highlights that inspired me.
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Posted on
1/24/2013 |
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Wordless Wednesday: National Day of Service Volunteers
Volunteers packed the D.C. Armory in Washington, DC, on Jan. 19, 2013, to participate in Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service and National Day of Service activities. Participants assembled 100,000 care kits for Operation Gratitude and wrote letters to U.S. soldiers during the event. Watch this blog for more National Day of Service photos from around the nation.
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Posted on
1/23/2013 |
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Mentors Get as Much as They Give
When people talk about mentoring, the discussion often focuses on the young people being served. But mentors will tell you that they also get something from these special relationships. Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, shared her mentoring story with us.
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Posted on
1/23/2013 |
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Serve on the MLK Day of Service
This weekend, Americans will join their neighbors in the National Day of Service and Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) encourages everyone to take some time during the holiday to make it “a day on, not a day off.
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Posted on
1/18/2013 |
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Mayors Initiative to Recognize National Service Impact
On April 9, mayors across the country will highlight the impact of national service in their cities and thank the individuals who serve during the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service. The initiative will be led by U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Cities of Service, and other organizations.
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Posted on
1/18/2013 |
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President Obama: Get Involved in the 2013 National Day of Service
President Obama encourages everyone to join him and the First Family for the National Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. People all across the nation will be participating in service projects – watch the video and learn how you can participate in the event.
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Posted on
1/17/2013 |
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Ready to Help with MLK Day and the National Day of Service?
Continuing a tradition he started at his first inauguration in 2009, President Barack Obama is calling on Americans all across the country to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and participate in the National Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.
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Posted on
1/17/2013 |
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Dr. King's Lesson: An Interview with Ruby Bridges
In 1960, when she was just 6 years old, civil rights leader Ruby Bridges was one of four children to integrate the public school system in New Orleans. Every day, she crossed a screaming mob to enter her classroom.
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Posted on
1/17/2013 |
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Americans to Mark Weekend of Service, Address Local Challenges
Americans from all 50 states will join thousands of organizations and commit to service this weekend as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service coincides with the 57th Presidential Inaugural and National Day of Service.
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Posted on
1/15/2013 |
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MLK Drum Major Award Recognizes Unsung Leaders
In a sermon delivered nearly 55 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described what he called the "Drum Major Instinct” to the congregation in Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church. The words he spoke that day were the inspiration for a national service award that recognizes leaders who give their time serving others but seldom seek the spotlight.
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Posted on
1/14/2013 |
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First Lady: Volunteer for the National Day of Service
First Lady Michelle Obama lends her voice to encourage Americans to serve as part of the National Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19. Read on to watch the video, discover more about the First Family’s commitment to community service, and learn how you can join the effort.
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Posted on
1/14/2013 |
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