Mayor Barrett proclaims April 9th as National Service Recognition Day

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- People from all walks of life filled the Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda on Tuesday, April 9th -- with one common goal. Mayor Barrett proclaimed Tuesday as National Service Recognition Day.

"The luckiest people on Earth are the people who are doing something that sets their soul on fire," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.

Mayor Barrett joined 700 mayors across the country in spending the day acknowledging the importance of volunteering.

"I am proud to join in this nationwide salute that will highlight the importance of citizen engagement, recognize the dedication of national service members, and inspire more residents to get involved in their communities," Mayor Barrett said.

There's no doubt that volunteering can make a difference.

"When I was young, someone had made a difference in my life through a non-profit organization and I still remember it to this day," volunteer AnnaBelle Strzyzykowski said.

Whether you're tutoring children...

"It`s rewarding for them and it`s rewarding for you. It`s a reciprocal environment," volunteer Tom Zychowicz said.

Or helping to build someone a home...

"It`s a proud feeling -- especially when you see the family that gets it and they enjoy the new house. It`s good," volunteer Jose Benitez said.

You can touch many lives by taking the time to give back.

For more information on how you can become a volunteer in the community you can log onto http://www.serve.gov/