蒙大拿州10月24日举行全州服务日：「两盏灯蒙大拿」倡议迎来高潮，居民走进社区做志愿服务
美国蒙大拿州10月24日迎来全州服务日「Montana Makes a Difference Day」。这一天是州长 Greg Gianforte 今年5月与蒙大拿州建国250周年委员会（Montana 250 Commission）和 ServeMontana 共同启动的「两盏灯蒙大拿」（Two Lights Montana）倡议的高潮日，州政府号召全州居民在这一天走进本地的食物银行、教会和其他社区服务组织，拿出时间做志愿服务。
「两盏灯」的名称来自1775年 Paul Revere 驰马报信与波士顿（Boston）老北教堂两盏灯笼信号的故事。倡议设「学习、参与、服务」三大支柱：鼓励居民研读美国建国文献、参观 Montana Heritage Center 等地标，参加地方政府公开会议，再以志愿服务回馈社区。Gianforte 在启动时表示，Paul Revere 的灯笼是行动信号，希望这项倡议也能成为一个信号，表明蒙大拿州在21世纪仍明白做一个美国人意味着什么。
蒙大拿州建国250周年委员会主席 Chris Averill 表示，这项倡议旨在把人们拉近彼此、拉近社区，希望全州居民在这个里程碑年份踏上探索与成长之旅。ServeMontana 主任 Sarah Sadowski 指出，与之相连的 America Gives 250 是历史上规模最大的志愿行动之一，居民可经本地 United Way 网站或志愿服务平台查找适合自己的机会，带上朋友和家人一起参加。
州长办公室表示，参与者可以在社交媒体上用 #TwoLightsMT 标签分享自己的经历，州建国250周年委员会将据此汇集和传播全州各地的故事。Gianforte 在倡议启动时对全州居民说，希望大家在建国250周年之年不是旁观者，而是美国下一篇章的共同作者。
Montana Holds Statewide Day of Service on Oct. 24 as 'Two Lights Montana' Initiative Reaches Its Culmination
Montana marked a statewide day of service, Montana Makes a Difference Day, on Saturday, Oct. 24. The day is the culmination of Two Lights Montana, an initiative Gov. Greg Gianforte launched in May with the Montana 250 Commission and ServeMontana to encourage a year of learning, civic participation and community service during the semiquincentennial of the United States. Residents were asked to dedicate time on Oct. 24 to a community service organization, volunteering at a local food bank, church or other organization.
The initiative takes its name from Paul Revere's ride and the two-lights signal from Boston's Old North Church in 1775, and is built on three pillars: Learn, Engage and Serve. It encourages Montanans to explore foundational American texts and landmarks such as the Montana Heritage Center, take part in local government by attending public meetings, and serve their communities through volunteer work. "Paul Revere's lanterns were a signal to act," Gianforte said at the launch. "Let our 'Two Lights Montana' initiative be a signal to the rest of the nation that Montana still knows what it means to be an American in the 21st century."
Chris Averill, chair of the Montana 250 Commission, said the initiative is designed to draw people closer to their history, their community and one another. Sarah Sadowski, director of ServeMontana, noted that the linked America Gives 250 effort is one of the largest volunteer efforts in history, and pointed residents to local United Way websites and volunteer platforms to find an opportunity that fits their skills.
Participants were encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #TwoLightsMT, which the Montana 250 Commission is monitoring to highlight stories from across the state. "To all Montanans: Let's ride together into this 250th anniversary, not as spectators, but as the authors of America's next great chapter," the governor said.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：位于 Helena 的蒙大拿州议会大厦（资料图）。来源：Martin Kraft，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / File photo: The Montana State Capitol in Helena. Source: Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
