4 minute read
Susannah MacKay
of Service3Ways to Celebrate National Day
BY SUSANNAH O. MACKAY
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I still remember where I was when I got the news of what was happening Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City; I remember the room where I stood and watched the horrific acts on television. I was a lot younger then, but I knew what I was seeing would change our nation forever. It’s hard to believe that it was more than 20 years ago, but I am happy to say that, while great tragedy took place that day, much good has come of it. Let me explain.
Did you know that Sept. 11 — Patriots Day — also is a National Day of Service? This event is organized by September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, a nonprofit organization with the mission to “transform the annual day of remembrance … into a worldwide day of unity and doing good.”
Each year, JustServe is proud to help promote this day and give communities a way to build understanding and unity through service. Here are a few opportunities close to home: 1. Georgia Adopt-A-Stream/Rivers Alive. Help maintain a clean water supply for our community and state by joining a river cleanup this fall, including the weekend of the National Day of Service (https://bit.ly/3bnNgBY). 2. Next Step Ministries seeks to enrich the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Become an ongoing volunteer (https://bit.ly/3BBjaFO), or sign up to volunteer Oct. 1 at the Run, Walk or Roll 5K (https://bit.ly/3d0KZxh). 3. Show love to seniors. Honor National Day of Service as well as Grandparents Day, which also falls on Sept. 11 this year. Sign up to volunteer at an assisted living center (https://bit.ly/3JnGOYc) or a hospice program (https://bit.ly/3d1ExGf) near you.
Be sure to check out these great projects and more on the JustServe website. Or, for additional ideas, join the JustServe North Georgia public Facebook group. You truly can make an impact with simple acts of service!
Justserve.org is a free, nationwide website and app that works to match volunteers with nonprofit organizations and service opportunities. If you run a nonprofit, or are looking for ways to make service a regular part of your life, check out justserve.org. You can sign up for regular updates and learn more about organizations nearby, too. JustServe makes it easy to just go out and serve!
Susannah MacKay is a local JustServe specialist. She grew up in Marietta and loves helping strengthen her community through service! Follow her on Facebook @JustServeGeorgia.
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Deaf Awareness Month
Whether you’re hoping to learn American Sign Language, are interested in learning more about the deaf and hard-ofhearing community or are a member of that community, here’s a list of 10 reads we think will resonate with you, available from the Cobb County Public Library.
In addition to the titles listed here, a variety of youth nonfiction library books are available to parents interested in explaining deafness and the use of ASL to younger readers. Nonfiction library books that teach ASL, for all ages, also can be found. Ask a library staff member for assistance.
Memoir
• “El Deafo” by Cece Bell (graphic novel) • “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered
Harvard Law” by Haben Girma
Youth Fiction
• “Song for a Whale” by Lynne Kelly • “Hello, Universe” by Erin Entrada Kelly
Youth Historical Fiction
• “Feathers” by Jacqueline Woodson • “Show Me a Sign” by Ann Clare LeZotte
Coming-of-Age/Young Adult Fiction
• “True Biz” by Sara Novic • “You’re Welcome, Universe” by Whitney Gardner
Nonfiction
• “American Sign Language Dictionary” by Tara Adams
Mystery/Thriller
• “Not a Sound” by Heather Gudenkauf
September is Deaf Awareness Month, and the week of Sept. 20 is International Week of the Deaf, so we want to highlight some of the services and resources available at the Cobb County Public Library for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
The North Cobb and West Cobb regional libraries each have a Merlin Reader, which has a text-to-speech feature that can be manipulated to help those who are hard of hearing.
The Accessibility Services page on the library website highlights the various products and services available to those with physical impairments. https://bit. ly/3bY7GSi.
The library also partners with several agencies to assist patrons with hearing impairments. • Georgia Relay. Staff members work with Relay team members to provide telephone service to the hard of hearing. Staff attended training to be prepared to take these calls. https://bit.ly/3zV2XsL. • Georgia Mobile Audiology. The van has visited the library twice to provide hearing screenings for children. https://bit. ly/3Ad10Ir. • Cobb-Douglas Public Health. The agency has provided hearing screenings at several library events through its detection and intervention program. https://bit. ly/3AfLlZZ.
