President Obama has made service a central cause of his administration and recently signed the most sweeping expansion of service programs in 75 years — the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. This summer, he is calling on all Americans to participate in our nation’s recovery and renewal by serving in our communities.

From June 22 to September 11, UNITED WE SERVE will engage citizens from coast to coast in addressing community needs in education, health, energy and the environment, and community and economic renewal. Instilled with energy and enthusiasm from this year’s successful National Conference on Volunteering and Service, citizens nationwide are renewing their commitment to service — or trying their hands at it for the first time!

Civic engagement can take many forms — from individual volunteerism, to organizational involvement, to electoral participation. And when service is directly connected to civic issues, knowledge, and skills, it helps individuals build a commitment to civic action, a concern for the common good, and a sense of effectiveness as a citizen.

Visit Serve.gov — your online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own.

This article is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service Resource Center by Hill Country RSVP, 1-866-372-5167 ext 255, Angela Richards, RSVP Coordinator.