Congresswoman Matsui Joins Volunteers Throughout Sacramento for 9/11 Day of Service Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 11, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

CA In honor of the 9/11 Day of Service, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) spent the day participating in community service events around Sacramento, working with local volunteers on a series of projects, and thanking the participants for their service. Each year, the 9/11 National Day of Service is commemorated to both remember the victims and heroes of the September 11th tragedy, as well as to honor their service to our country by taking part in community service activities.

Congresswoman Matsui began the day at Bell Avenue Elementary School for Hands On Sacramento's 9/11 Day of Service project, where she joined more than 200 community volunteers in building a new community garden, planting trees, renovating a playground, and refurbishing classrooms. During the event, Congresswoman Matsui gave remarks on the 9/11 Day of Service, saying I can think of no better way to honor those who risked or gave their lives than by recommitting ourselves to engaging in activities that strengthen our communities, brick by brick, school by school, hand in hand .

From there, Congresswoman Matsui went to Sacramento Habitat for Humanity's 25th Anniversary Celebration and Home Dedication Ceremony at a newly refurbished home in Oak Park. During the event, the new home was dedicated to Demissie and Genet Beyene Zerihun, two local parents who will soon move in. Demissie spent over five hundred hours himself working with Sacramento-based Habitat for Humanity volunteers building the house his family will soon enjoy.

The Congresswoman then went on to participate in the NeighborWorks 21st Annual Paint the Town event, which is held each year to help revitalize dilapidated homes in Sacramento. This year's event focused on rehabilitating homes along a two block stretch in Oak Park. Volunteers also helped revitalize a formerly vacant home to be sold as part of the neighborhood stabilization initiative.

Service and volunteerism have been a cornerstone of the Sacramento community for generations, and I was pleased to once again invoke that tradition by joining volunteers across town today in revitalizing our schools and our neighborhoods, added Congresswoman Matsui.