Remembering, Serving, and Caring for One Another
A Day of Remembrance, Reflection & Community
September 11, 2001, is a day that changed our country forever.
Twenty-five years later, many of us still remember where we were when we heard the news.
We remember the images.
We remember the uncertainty.
We remember the people who never came home.
We remember the first responders who ran toward danger while others were running away.
We remember families waiting for phone calls that would never come.
And we remember something else, too.
People came together.
We Remember the Lives Lost
On September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes.
Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City. Another struck the Pentagon. Passengers and crew members aboard the fourth plane fought back against the hijackers before the plane crashed in Pennsylvania.
2,977 people were killed in the attacks.
They came from 90 nations.
They were parents.
Children.
Spouses.
Siblings.
Friends.
Coworkers.
Neighbors.
People who had plans for that afternoon, that weekend, and the years ahead.
Today, we remember them.
We remember their names.
We remember their families.
And we remember the lives they lived—not only the way they died.
Learn more about the 9/11 Memorial & Museum's remembrance resources
We Remember the People Who Helped
One of the most powerful parts of the story of September 11 isn't only what was lost.
It is what people chose to do afterward.
Firefighters, police officers, EMTs, doctors, nurses, volunteers, construction workers, counselors, faith communities, organizations, and ordinary people came together to help.
Thousands of people traveled to Ground Zero to participate in rescue, recovery, and cleanup efforts.
People donated.
People volunteered.
People cooked meals.
People opened their doors.
People looked after one another.
People simply asked:
“What can I do?”
The 9/11 Memorial describes the months following the attacks as being marked by compassion, public service, and volunteerism.
That part of the story matters.
Because in the middle of unimaginable loss, people showed one another what community can look like.
What Does September 11 Have to Do With KindNest?
At first, it may seem like September 11 and the work of a family support nonprofit are completely unrelated.
But there is a connection.
It is found in one simple idea:
We are stronger when we take care of one another.
KindNest was built around that belief.
Families sometimes experience their own difficult seasons.
A mother may suddenly realize she doesn't have enough diapers.
A caregiver may be struggling to afford groceries.
A family may need clothing for growing children.
A new mother may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn.
Sometimes the need is immediate.
Sometimes it is something that has been building for months.
And sometimes the hardest part isn't the need itself.
It's feeling like you have to face it alone.
That's where community matters.
Small Acts of Service Can Make a Big Difference
Most of us will never be called to run into a burning building.
Most of us will never stand at Ground Zero.
Most of us will never be faced with a decision as extraordinary as the ones people faced on September 11.
But every one of us has opportunities to help someone else.
We can donate a box of diapers.
We can give a bag of children's clothing.
We can volunteer our time.
We can share a resource.
We can make a phone call for someone who doesn't know where to start.
We can check on a neighbor.
We can listen to a struggling parent.
We can make a family feel seen.
We can ask:
“What do you need?”
And then, when possible:
“How can I help?”
This Is What KindNest Tries to Do
KindNest works with mothers, caregivers, babies, young children, and families experiencing difficult seasons.
Our work begins with listening.
A family reaches out and tells us what they need.
KindNest then works to organize available donations, supplies, volunteers, and resources around those needs.
That may mean diapers.
Wipes.
Baby clothing.
Hygiene supplies.
A care package.
A referral.
A connection to another community resource.
Or simply helping a family figure out what the next step could be.
KindNest describes this as a simple support rhythm:
Listen first.
Respond with practical care.
Connect families to the next helpful step.
Because sometimes a box of diapers isn't just a box of diapers.
Sometimes it is one less thing a parent has to worry about.
Sometimes it creates a little breathing room.
Sometimes it reminds a mother:
Someone sees you.
Someone cares.
You are not alone.
Community Is Built One Person at a Time
The response to September 11 showed what can happen when people decide that someone else's pain matters to them.
KindNest believes we can carry that spirit into our own communities.
Not by trying to solve everything.
Not by believing one organization can meet every need.
But by recognizing that we all have something to contribute.
Maybe you can give.
Maybe you can volunteer.
Maybe you can donate items.
Maybe you can connect KindNest with a business, church, school, healthcare provider, or another nonprofit.
Maybe you have a resource that another family needs.
Maybe you simply have five minutes to share a post.
It all matters.
For the Children Growing Up After 9/11
There is another reason remembrance matters.
A growing number of children today were born long after September 11, 2001.
They will learn about that day from history books, documentaries, photographs, teachers, parents, and grandparents.
As adults, we have an opportunity to teach them more than what happened.
We can teach them what came afterward.
We can teach them about courage.
We can teach them about compassion.
We can teach them about service.
We can teach them that when something terrible happens, people can still choose kindness.
We can teach them that helping someone doesn't require us to have all the answers.
Sometimes it simply requires us to show up.
Remembering Can Become Action
Today, we remember.
But remembering doesn't have to end when September 11 ends.
We can honor the lives lost by choosing to care about the lives around us.
Check on someone.
Help a family.
Support a local nonprofit.
Thank a first responder.
Volunteer.
Donate.
Teach your children to look for people who need a hand.
Be the person who notices.
Be the person who asks.
Be the person who helps when you can.
Because we never know how much one small act of kindness might mean to someone else.
A Message From KindNest
Today, KindNest remembers the lives lost on September 11, 2001.
We remember the families who lost loved ones.
We honor the first responders, service members, volunteers, healthcare workers, and countless others who served in the aftermath.
And we remember the communities that came together during one of the darkest moments in our nation's history.
Twenty-five years later, the lesson of community still matters.
Families still need one another.
Parents still need support.
Children still need people who care about them.
And there are still opportunities every day to make someone else's load a little lighter.
That's what community looks like.
That's what service looks like.
That's what kindness looks like.
And that's why KindNest will continue working toward a community where families don't have to carry difficult seasons alone.
Today, We Remember.
We remember the nearly 3,000 people whose lives were taken.
We remember the families who were changed forever.
We remember the courage of those who responded.
We remember the people who helped.
We remember the communities that came together.
And we remember that even in the darkest moments, people have the ability to choose compassion.
May we never forget.
May we continue to serve.
May we continue to care.
And may we continue to be there for one another.
September 11, 2001 — We Remember.
Learn. Remember. Serve.
If you would like to teach your children about September 11 in an age-appropriate way, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum offers educational and remembrance resources for families, students, and educators.
Explore the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Support the KindNest Mission
If today's reflection inspires you to help a local family, there are many ways to become part of the KindNest community.
You can donate needed baby and children's essentials, make a financial contribution, volunteer, partner with KindNest, or simply help spread the word.
Every act of kindness helps keep the nest warm.