Nationwide observances to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place across the country this past weekend. While most observances focused on the heroism and sacrifices of first responders who died on 9/11, about 1,000 volunteers in downtown Phoenix met at the Convention Center on Saturday for the Arizona Meal Pack for 9/11 Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
The nonprofit 9/11 Day came together with HandsOn Greater Phoenix to organize a signature meal pack event where volunteers helped pack roughly 200,000 healthy, nonperishable meals.
All of the packed meals were donated to St. Mary’s Food Bank and United Food Bank. The banks will distribute to food-insecure individuals and families across Arizona to help address the growing food crisis.
The 9/11 Day website says the mission for the 20th anniversary of 9/11 was to “inspire millions of Americans and others to rekindle the remarkable spirit of unity and compassion that arose in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and to perform good deeds and other acts of service in tribute to those killed and injured, rescue and recovery personnel, and those who bravely rose in service in response to the attacks.
“It’s our way of keeping the promise to ‘Never Forget’.”
Upbeat music played as volunteers packed meals during the event. The HandsOn Greater Phoenix CEO, Rhonda Oliver shared the significance of making sure to keep everyone’s energy levels raised.
“To honor the people who gave so much and sacrificed so much, this is what it should look like,” Oliver said. “To continue to lift everybody up.”
Volunteers from around Phoenix, ages 12 and up, participated in two-hour shifts packing meals.
“We are here to show that we are strong as a nation, and a tragedy will not take us down,” Melissa Martinez, a volunteer helping with the event said.
In 2002, the organization 9/11 Day was founded in New York City and eventually expanded observances to 10 cities across the nation, including Phoenix.
The 9/11 Day YouTube channel posted a video highlighting media coverage from the Meal Pack for 9/11 Day volunteer service events that have been held in the past around the nation.
The 10 cities that participated had a goal of packing 2.5 million meals this year to be donated to agencies that feed the needy.
Arizona became involved with Meal Pack for 9/11 Day in 2018. This is the third year Phoenix will be hosting this event. Last year’s operations were halted by COVID-19.
In comparison to 2019, this year’s gathering was smaller with restrictions, but the 9/11 Day crew was happy with the turnout.
“We were actually really pleasantly surprised how many corporations and how many public people when we put it out to the public filled our spots,” said Barb Harris, event manager for Meal Pack 9/11 Day.
Upon entry, vaccination cards and face masks were required to attend the event to maintain a safe environment for volunteers and packaged meals, said HandsOn Greater Phoenix spokesperson Rhonda Oliver.
Oliver said Meal Pack for 9/11 Day has now become a Phoenix tradition and helps embody the same kind of service first responders showed the world on 9/11.
“We feel like we saw the best of America in the aftermath of 9/11 with everybody pulling together and putting personal agendas aside, just coming together to lift the country up,” Oliver said. “And so for us, it makes great sense to continue that spirit.”
Contact the reporter at jqmoya@asu.edu
