As part of the National 9/11 Day of Observance, a new campus organization, Mason Service Council, has spearheaded the 2014 Mason 9/11 Day of Service.

MSC is an umbrella organization of groups across campus who want to work together to serve the local community.

Last year, 400 students and faculty were involved in the event with seven service projects. Now in its second year with 10 projects, student leaders expect to have close to 1,000 people work service projects.

“We want to turn this day of tragedy into a day of positive action,” Nubia Del Carpio, the president of MSC, said.

Following the service projects, there will be an evening of reflection that will include a candlelight vigil, moment of silence and an interfaith element.

“[We want to] end the night on a serious note to remember why we ultimately came together,” Del Carpio said.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service Check in

List of volunteer activities:

Basketball, Karaoke, Food: Giving Back Filipino Style

• Led by: Filipino Culture Association, Working Group for Displaced Populations, Amazon WaSH and Women & Gender Studies Office
• Location: Skyline gym and Hanover Multipurpose room
• Participate in Filipino pastimes play basketball, sing karaoke and eat Filipino cuisine.

Buddy Poppy Fundraising with Local Veterans

• Led by Alpha Phi and VFW Post 8469
• Location: North Plaza, JC South Plaza, Corner Pocket patio
• Talk to local veterans as part of one of the oldest traditions of VFW posts.

Cancer Care Packages for Children

• Led by Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority
• Location: Johnson Center Room A
• Help decorate care packages for children suffering from cancer by decorating baskets and making cards to donate to the Inova Children’s Hospital.

Child Development Center

• Led by Hispanic Student Association
• Location: Child Development Center [near the Rappahannock Parking Deck]
• Participate in emergency preparedness activities with children.

Clothing Drive for Women Giving Back

• Led by the Honors College & Phi Kappa Sigma
• Location: Tent by Mason Statue
• Donate used or gently warn clothing to be donated to Women Giving Back.

Food Drive for James Mott Community Assistance Program 

• Led by: JMCAP, Alpha Kappa Alphas and Alphas
• Location: Mason Statue
• Donate nonperishable food items that will be donated to senior community centers and HIV/AIDS clients.

Innovation Food Forest

• Led by: GMU Organic Gardening Association and Students Helping Honduras
• Location: Innovation Hall
• Research various plants to provide signage going into the Innovation Food Forest.

Potomac Heights Vegetable Garden

• Led by: GMU Organic Gardening Association
• Location: Behind Potomac Heights Residence Hall
• Help plant, water and harvest the vegetable garden behind Potomac Heights.

Serve at the Local Veterans of Foreign Wars 8469

• Led by: Alpha Phi Omega
• Location: VFW Post 8469 [5703 Vogue Rd, Fairfax Station, VA 22039]
• Work with veterans at VFW Post 8469.

Prince William Campus Community Garden

• Led by: University Life Prince William Campus
• PWC Community Garden [adjacent to Beacon Hall]
• Help plant, water, and harvest the vegetable garden at Prince William Campus.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: George Mason University’s Service Fair

• Sponsored by: Mason’s Social Action and Integratice Learning
• Location: North Plaza
• Find out ways where you can get involved in community organizations and chances where you can volunteer in the area.

7:20 p.m.-8:45 p.m.: Novelist Roxana Robinson and Journalist David Finkel

• As part of Fall for the Book
• Location: Center for the Arts
• In this talk, Robinson and Finkel, novelist and journalist, will discuss the similar topic of their recent books: the soldier’s experience of returning home from the Iraq War. The two will look at the issue from opposite writing perspectives. Robinson released Sparta in June 2013. Finkel, Pulitzer Prize Winner and Macarthur Grant Recipient, released Thank You for Your Service in October 2013.

9 p.m.-10:15 p.m.: Candlelight Ceremony

• Led by: IV Estate
• Location: Mason Pond
• Join IV Estate and the Mason community in remembering the events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001 with a candlelight vigil and moment of silence at 9:11 p.m.