The Gift of Service
In addition to those who devote time to volunteer activities in between their regular commitments to work and family, millions more give one or more years of their life to national service through the military, the Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps, a domestic service program. The U.S. government strongly encourages volunteer activities and works closely with state and local organizations to support programs that benefit all Americans.
On April 21, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that dramatically expands national and community service opportunities for Americans, whether with a formal organization like AmeriCorps or in their local neighborhoods. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, named for the late senator from Massachusetts, will usher in a “new era of service,” the president said.
