Thousands of volunteers mark 9/11 Day of Service at Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
NEW YORK -- Thousands of volunteers arrived at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum early Monday morning for what's billed as the country's largest day of charitable service.
Between Monday and Tuesday, close to 5,000 people will pack 1.5 million healthy and nonperishable meals in a national effort to mark 9/11 Day.
"It is the largest single day of giving in the United States," said Jennifer Burke, 9/11 Day's national program director.
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Assembly lines of people worked hard and worked together to make a difference.
"We have so many stories of people banding together, common acts of goodness just to try to get everybody through that day and I feel like this is kind of continuing that spirit," said Zane Smith.
Many have different reasons for volunteering.
"My son was born on 9/11, on the day, and so we have been volunteering here with 911day.org for years to give back," said Claude Howard.
"I see a lot of homelessness on the streets. So I think it's important to make sure that people have the opportunity to have food," said Eunice Colon.
All are focused on recapturing and honoring the time our country came together to help one another in the midst of tragedy.
September is also Hunger Action Month, an annual campaign raising awareness about food insecurity. The meals packed at this event will go to City Harvest and Food Bank of New York City.
"We were all inspired by the way our nation put aside its differences and we stopped being red states and blue states for a few minutes, and we just realized how much we have in common," said David Paine, co-founder of September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Organizers said more than 30 million Americans will do something good in their communities Monday.