Community Services

Guilford, Conn. – September 16, 2026 -- Families planning a funeral in Guilford now have more ways than ever to shape a service around a loved one's actual life, according to a new HelloNation feature spotlighting George Sullivan III of Guilford Funeral Home.

Music and readings set the emotional tone of a service

The article explains that families often select songs tied to specific life moments or cultural traditions, using music to shape how a service feels for attendees. Readings, whether religious passages, poetry, or personal writings, are used alongside music to reflect the individual's beliefs and add emotional depth.

United States – September 16, 2026 -- Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is marking the anniversary of the September 11 attacks by reaffirming its commitment to support veterans and service members for as long as they need help, not on a fixed timeline.

WWP CEO Walt Piatt says the organization's promise has no expiration date

"After 9/11, millions of Americans raised their hands and said, 'Send me,'" Piatt said. "It is now our turn to keep our promise to be there for them no matter what. Not for five years. Not for 25 years. For as long as they need us."

The nonprofit began in 2003 with backpacks delivered to wounded service members' bedsides

WWP started by handing out backpacks filled with comfort items to wounded troops in hospitals. That simple gesture grew into a broader effort to support warriors and their families through recovery and beyond.

New York – September 15, 2026 -- Healing New York will present the Second Round Foundation with its Game Changers for Children Award at the 2026 Fall Gala on November 19, honoring the group's youth-focused education and mentorship work.

The gala takes place at New York Historical on November 19

The event runs from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at New York Historical, located at 170 Central Park West. Healing New York, incorporated in 1875 as the nation's first child protection agency, uses the annual gala to recognize individuals and organizations advancing child and family wellbeing.

Bonn – September 15, 2026 -- The "WDR 2 Weihnachtswunder" charity campaign is returning for its fifth year, with the aid alliance Aktion Deutschland Hilft and German radio station WDR 2 launching a donation drive to fight world hunger.

Nearly 50 projects will receive funding this year, the most since the campaign began

Donations collected through the campaign will support close to 50 projects run by Aktion Deutschland Hilft's partner organizations, providing everything from emergency food and clean water to longer-term support for agriculture and livelihoods. Local partners on the ground assess needs, identify vulnerable people, and implement the projects.

Boise, Idaho – September 15, 2026 -- Cobblestone Car Wash is donating $1 from every GrapheneX Express Exterior wash purchased at any of its Idaho locations throughout September to St. Luke's Children's Hospital's pediatric cancer research program.

The initiative coincides with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and applies to all 14 Cobblestone locations across Idaho.

Roughly 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually in the US

Cobblestone and St. Luke's Children's Hospital cite this figure as the basis for the campaign, which aims to fund improved treatment options, new therapy development, survivorship care, and reduced disparities in pediatric cancer outcomes.

Customers simply upgrade their wash to trigger the donation

Any driver who selects the GrapheneX Express Exterior wash at a participating Idaho location during September automatically generates the $1 donation, with no additional steps required.

Denver – September 15, 2026 -- As fall sports and back-to-school activities ramp up, the U.S. Center for SafeSport is pushing parents and coaches to revisit free abuse prevention resources aimed at protecting young athletes.

SafeSport maintains a searchable database of banned individuals

The Center's Centralized Disciplinary Database (CDD) lists people banned or restricted from participating in sport within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The database is updated in real time and free for anyone to search, with guidance available on what to do if a familiar name appears on the list.

Washington – September 15, 2026 -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Ad Council are rolling out new public service announcements and expanded resources at VA.gov/REACH as part of Buddy Check Week, running Sept. 21-25, 2026, within the ongoing "Don't Wait. Reach Out." campaign.

Suicide remains a leading cause of death among young Veterans.

In 2023, suicide was the second-leading cause of death for Veterans under 45, with 6,398 Veterans losing their lives that year, according to the 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report.

Refreshed PSAs target Veterans who question if they deserve support.

The updated "You Are a Veteran" PSAs, developed pro bono by creative agency GSD&M, use Veteran-to-Veteran messaging to reinforce that all Veterans, regardless of when, where or why they served, earned access to care and resources. The ads will run nationwide on donated media placements.

Westlake, Texas – September 15, 2026 -- Animal health company Virbac is inviting pet owners, veterinary professionals and animal advocates to nominate a shelter, rescue or nonprofit for its Every Pet Project donation program, which awards $2,500 each to two animal welfare organizations every month.

Anyone can submit a nomination once a day through the program's website, and any 501(c)(3) registered shelter, rescue or animal welfare nonprofit in the United States qualifies.

The program has already reached 198 charities across 45 states

Since its launch, Every Pet Project has distributed a cumulative $500,000 in donations, driven by more than 150,000 public nominations.

Virbac says the funding is meant to help organizations facing rising intake numbers, limited staff and growing demand for veterinary services.

Aßlar – September 13, 2026 -- Relationship coaches Jonathan Makkonen and Janine Förster argue that a respectful breakup starts long before any divorce paperwork is filed, not after it. The pair, founders of coaching practice Das Relationship, say the decisions couples make during a healthy relationship determine whether a later separation turns into years of conflict or a manageable transition.

Parenting duties continue even when the couple relationship ends

Boston – September 13, 2026 -- Boston Children's Museum will host Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days from September 18 through September 20, 2026, offering families a free costume character Meet & Greet included with paid museum admission.

Three days of Gabby-themed activities run 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The event, presented in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation and the Association of Children's Museums (ACM), returns for a second year at the Boston location. Programming includes a Storytime session, a Gabby Cats scavenger hunt, a dance party with DJ Catnip, and a craft activity making Hamster Kitty Fairies.

Advance reservations are required due to limited capacity.

Families can register through the museum's website ahead of the event. Regular museum admission applies -- $24 for adults, children ages 1-15, and seniors -- while children under 12 months and museum members enter free.