WRITTEN BY JOSH NIELSEN
On Saturday, September 10, 2022 hundreds of volunteers rallied to serve together in remembrance of the events of 9/11. They were young and old, strangers and friends but came together as they put their lives on hold to serve together. These Saints desired to do what David Paine, one of the founders of the 9/11 Day of Service movement desired as well, “We wanted … to honor the victims and those who rose in service by keeping alive the spirit of unity and service that arose in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks.”*
Last year’s 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance event was hosted by dozens of congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in conjunction with JustServe and many local non-profit organizations. In the days leading up to the event, these members were encouraged to invite their neighbors, co-workers and friends to join them in worthy causes of donations and service projects.
Locally, that included donations of sugar, flour, rice, and zipper bags which were then consolidated into food staples kits which were given in food orders for T.E.A.M (Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries). Other endeavors included the creation of over 144 quilts and blankets, hand made from collected and donated fabric. Some of the quilts were curated by youth as young as eight! These donated quilts were individually bagged to keep them clean and ready for delivery to the S.O.S (Society of Samaritans) in Magnolia.
Sack lunches for KidsMeals in Montgomery County were organized for toddlers in food crisis that unfortunately do not receive meals through schools. Over 80 participants created many sack lunches for grateful children whose nutritional needs were met. In addition to the sack lunches, over 60 individuals participated in creating greeting cards for local nursing homes which were distributed to staff leaders who in turn provided them to residents. These homemade cards provided cheer and joy to local nursing home residents.
Further service included a large group of over 80 members donating their time and efforts for the maintenance and upkeep of Unit Park in Magnolia which included painting, landscaping, and clean up. The caretaker was ever grateful as he had neither the time or resources to complete such an undertaking.
The National Cemetery in downtown Houston became a gathering place for over a thousand volunteers who worked together to clean and align headstones, paint headstones and cleanup debris. This service ended with a special commemorative ceremony dedicated to the fallen of 9/11 and First Responders.
With only two officially recognized Days of Service under federal law, we look forward to the opportunity to come together and serve at the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance projects each year. As Mayor Sylvestor Turner stated, “Houstonians are no strangers to helping people … we are always there and ready to assist.”
We gratefully acknowledge those who gave their all on 9/11 and those who continue to give of themselves here to lift and love all of God’s children.
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