New York, NY—MillionTreesNYC is taking part in United We Serve, a national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer.

MillionTreesNYC will be recruiting environmentally-conscious New Yorkers for the MTNYC Stewardship Corps and fall tree planting events as part of the summer service initiative, which President Obama announced in a video message last month.

In these tough economic times, we need volunteers more than ever. MillionTreesNYC is facing increasing demands for services, and volunteers can help us fill this growing need.  We are pleased to join this national effort and thank the President for making this call to service.

United We Serve kicks off on June 22 and runs through September 11, which will be marked for the first time as a national day of service and remembrance.  The initiative is being led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that improves lives and strengthens communities though volunteering and service.

“This summer, I'm calling on all of you to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of this nation,” said President Obama in the video.  “Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together.”

United We Serve focuses on five key areas where everyone can have a real impact in their community: education, health, energy and the environment; community renewal, and safety and security.

To make it easy for individuals to get involved, the Corporation created Serve.gov, a website that allows visitors to type in their zip code to find local volunteer opportunities, recruit volunteers by posting their organization’s projects, or get ideas for creating their own projects with friends, families, and neighbors. The MillionTreesNYC Stewardship Corps is one of many volunteer initiatives seeking to connect with civic-minded individuals through United We Serve.

During Energy and Environment week, which runs from Aug 3 – Aug 9th, United We Serve will highlight a sample of the countless volunteer projects that protect natural resources and promote renewable energy.  By rolling up their sleeves to maintain public lands, weatherize a home or clean up a beach, volunteers are restoring America’s promise, one community at a time.

Everyone has something to give, and summer is a great time to get involved.  By serving this summer, we hope more New Yorkers will make an ongoing commitment to volunteering throughout the year.

Check us out on the United We Serve blog at www.Serve.gov along with several other volunteer opportunities in your area!