Institute of Rural Health Awarded $10,000 to Unite ISU's Communities Through Service on 9/11

The Institute of Rural Health (IRH) is pleased to announce that they have been selected as a 9/11 Day’s campus grant recipient. 

This fall, as the nation marks the 25th Anniversary of September 11th, the IRH will be leading four community service projects as part of a growing national movement to permanently transform the anniversary of 9/11 into America's Day of Doing Good.

Partnering with Popeyes and AmeriCorps, 9/11 Day provides nationwide grants to help inspire millions of people each year to honor the victims, survivors, and heroes of September 11th through acts of service.  We are incredibly proud to be a part of that mission this year.

Volunteer with us — We invite members of the ISU community to take part in our upcoming events:

1. Supporting Benny’s Pantry's new community garden. Volunteers will be recruited to help with harvesting produce, preparing produce for distribution in the pantry, weeding garden beds, collecting and storing seeds, and preparing the garden area for winter.
2. Preparing meal kits for Benny’s Pantry. The pantry needs shelf-stable food items for meals and simple birthday kits. Volunteers will work together to organize and prepare meal kits, including a recipe for distribution by the pantry. The meal kits will include simple meals such as a can of chili, a can of corn, rice, and cornbread mix. The birthday kits may include a recipe, cake mix, frosting, a can of soda, and an uplifting card made by volunteers.
3. Assembling hygiene kits for Benny’s Pantry. The pantry also needs hygiene kits to support healthy living. The hygiene kits will include items such as soap, lotion, a small towel, a comb, a toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. Volunteers will prepare and assemble hygiene kits for distribution by Benny’s Pantry.
4. Preparing appreciation items for local first responders. Volunteers will create appreciation items, including thank-you cards, decorative appreciation magnets, and self-care items to help with burnout, such as journals/writing prompt cards, affirmation cards, and sensory items.

Spread the word — Share this with someone who wants to make a difference this September!

Follow along — Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to September 11th. You can learn more about these events and other local September 11 remembrance events on the program's 9/11 Events webpage.

Together, we can make this anniversary one of unity, purpose, and action. We hope you'll join us.

For more information about 9/11 Day, visit the program’s website or contact Kayla Fielder, lead grant project coordinator, or Jana Bodily-Roan, project director, at the Institute of Rural Health at (208) 282-4436 or irh@isu.edu.