Day of Service
WHEREAS, Virginia was the first state in America to establish an official policy of religious freedom when the Virginia General Assembly enacted Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786, and today our Commonwealth is blessed with a vibrant and diverse religious community represented by many different faiths and traditions from across the world; and
WHEREAS, helping the poor and needy is a common thread that runs through the fabric of all religions, and, given the rising levels of unemployment, underemployment, and homelessness across the nation, it is fitting to encourage interfaith community action to improve the circumstances of those struggling with the effects of the global economic turndown, natural disasters and other misfortunes and improve the quality of life in our Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, loving kindness is the most valuable support to the well-being of those in need, and there is an abundance of opportunities throughout Virginia for citizens to take selfless action, such as volunteering at homeless shelters, food banks, and community agencies like the Red Cross; enabling others to become self-reliant by assisting displaced workers in finding jobs, teaching financial literacy and other life skills to the undereducated, and serving as mentors to at-risk youth and the underprivileged; and also helping communities organize resources, such as participating in food, clothes and blood drives or making charitable contributions to organizations; and
WHEREAS, this year countless Virginians have experienced hardships spawned by natural disasters, including several tornadoes, an earthquake, a hurricane and a tropical storm, and it is important to call public attention to the continued need for charitable donations, hands-on community clean-up projects and other efforts to provide relief and recovery to those living in affected areas; and
WHEREAS, it is important and proper to recognize days in which Virginians are encouraged to make a concerted and united effort to care for the poor and needy, to give service, and to design projects where families and individuals can assist those in need and improve the quality of life in our Commonwealth’s communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert F. McDonnell, do hereby recognize September 24, 2011 as a DAY OF SERVICE in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens; and
FURTHERMORE, I call upon all faith-based organizations, community groups, civic organizations, and Virginians to come together and perform service in their local communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RECOGNIZED, 2011 marks the 75th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ welfare program, an effort which has improved the lives of countless individuals in our Commonwealth, these United States, and throughout the world, and which should be a model to all organizations and faiths as we work together to build a true Commonwealth of Opportunity.