Are You Prepared? 9/11 Anniversary Tips On How To Help

Today, September 11th marks the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. If you're like me, it's a day where I think about the lives lost and how this horrific event forever changed our country. But, if you're like me, you also know that there are so many ways to commemorate this tragedy without attending events or traveling far away from home. Here are nine of those ideas:

Donate to a 9/11 Memorial Fund

Donating to a 9/11 memorial fund is a great way to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks. While there are many funds set up to help out, it can be difficult to determine which ones are reputable and which of those you should donate money to.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has established the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which provides compensation for economic losses suffered by individuals due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., as well as any survivors who have been diagnosed with certain cancers or respiratory illnesses related to their exposure at Ground Zero in Manhattan, or at Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Donations made through this fund will go towards helping victims receive compensation for their losses from these events; however, you still have a choice in what organization receives your donation when it comes time for giving back after these terrible attacks took place 15 years ago today

Help First Responders: Volunteer or Donate

You can help first responders by volunteering your time and donating to their departments. Many of them will have been working nearly nonstop since the attacks, and they need our support now more than ever.

Volunteer with a local fire department in your area. You can work as part of a team or on an individual project, such as building furniture for an official space at the station or cleaning out vehicles that were used during 9/11.

Donate money or supplies to your local police department, EMS (emergency medical services), hospital or volunteer ambulance service. They may need funds to replace equipment that was damaged or destroyed during the attacks and subsequent cleanup efforts; donate cash so they can purchase new supplies and equipment right away!

Host a Blood Drive in Your Community

Another way to help your community is to host a blood drive in your neighborhood. Donating blood is an easy way to make a difference, and it's always needed. Every day, more than 37,000 pints of blood are needed across the US and Canada!

Each year on September 11th, people around the globe come together to show support for those who lost their lives during that tragic day. Helping others is one way we can honor their memory by giving back through acts of kindness and showing our gratitude for all they sacrificed so we may live free from harm.

Give to a Military Organization or Group that Supports Veterans

Help veterans, who have been through so much. If you feel like supporting the military community and its families, consider giving to a charity that supports veterans or their families. There are countless organizations that do this, but here are just a few that we think are worth checking out:

• The Mission Continues is an organization dedicated to helping veterans reintegrate into society by giving them opportunities for growth and development of leadership skills through service projects in their communities.
• Team Rubicon is an international disaster relief organization made up entirely of military veterans who use their skills and experience from combat zones to provide aid during natural disasters around the world. They also offer counseling services for veterans struggling with PTSD or other mental health issues related to their service or deployment overseas.
• Team Red White AND Blue offers retreats for returning vets where they can connect with other vets going through similar challenges as well as take part in physical activities like hiking, rock climbing and kayaking as well as educational seminars on topics such as managing home loans after deployment overseas (how many people know it's possible to have your house foreclosed while deployed overseas?).

Support Families Whose Loved Ones Are Still Missing

There are several ways to help the families of 9/11 victims.

• Donate to a fund for families of the victims. You can donate online, by phone or by mail. The Twin Towers Fund is one that's still accepting donations and has helped more than 5,000 family members of those killed in the attacks. It has no overhead costs, so every dollar donated goes directly to victim families. The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund provides compensation for those with physical injuries received during or as a result of 9/11 as well as financial compensation for lost wages or medical bills related to physical injuries sustained on that day.* Donate to charities that support first responders, military families and others affected by 9/11.* Consider taking part in volunteer opportunities this month at memorial sites across the country (check out Volunteer Match).

Contribute to an Educational Fund for the Children of First Responders

If you would like to help the next generation learn about 9/11, consider contributing to an educational fund. Education is important for all children, but it is especially crucial for those who lost their parents during that tragic day. These children need a strong sense of history in order to cope with their grief and move forward with their lives.

Consider donating money or supplies to an educational fund in your community or state. You can also help by finding out if there are any funds in existence where you live, then contacting them and expressing interest in volunteering time or resources toward the cause.

Get involved with an organization that helps survivors and their families.

• Get involved with an organization that helps survivors and their families. Many organizations are working to help survivors and the families of victims who died on 9/11, including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. If you want to donate, visit the museum website for information on how to make a donation. Or you can give directly by calling 1–855–819–7787 (toll free) or visiting https://www.911memorial.org/donate
• Join a civic engagement organization working on immigration reform: The tragedy of 9/11 was felt worldwide, but it was particularly devastating for many immigrants who lost loved ones in the attacks because they were unable to travel back home for funerals or other important events like graduations or weddings due to travel restrictions at that time.*
• Volunteer with youth organizations in your community, including schools, libraries and after school programs.* Donate money or goods to nonprofits serving first responders like firefighters and police officers - organizations like The Firefighter Cancer Support Network offer resources for firefighters battling cancer.* Help first responders: volunteer or donate

Join a civic engagement organization working on immigration reform, so that we can honor the victims from 93 countries who died at the World Trade Center.

If you haven't already, join a civic engagement organization working on immigration reform so that we can honor the victims from 93 countries who died at the World Trade Center.

There are organizations like One Day's Pay, an all-volunteer group that works to help immigrants integrate into American society through education and job training. They have been helping newly arrived immigrants find work since 9/11, when it became clear how hard entry-level jobs were to come by for non-citizens because of racial profiling and discrimination against those with accents or different cultural backgrounds. Join them in their advocacy efforts or donate money if you're able.

Another great resource is United We Dream (UWD), which provides leadership development programs for young undocumented people across the U.S., connects them with each other and their communities, and encourages civic engagement around issues affecting their families' lives like deportation protections and access to higher education opportunities - both of which could be strengthened by immigration reform legislation currently being debated in Congress right now! 

Volunteer with youth organizations in your community, including schools, libraries and after school programs, to help children understand what happened on 9/11.

Volunteer with youth organizations in your community, including schools, libraries and after school programs, to help children understand what happened on 9/11.

• Help them learn about the terrorist attacks by watching videos of interviews with people who were there or reading books about it.
• If for some reason a child does not understand what happened that day, be prepared to explain it in simpler terms without making them feel scared or concerned. Children's understanding levels are different from adults so keep that in mind when talking about this tragedy with them.
• If a child asks questions about why someone would want to commit these acts of violence then try not to give too much detail because they may not truly grasp the concept yet and may become upset if they hear too much information at once! Instead try asking them what they think might have caused such terrible events and then respond back with some possible thought processes as well as facts such as "I am sure many people wondered why this happened." This way you are giving them options while still letting them know that there are things we don't fully understand yet either."

There are many ways that you can commemorate the tragedy without attending events.

There are many ways that you can commemorate the tragedy without attending events.

• Donate to a 9/11 memorial fund. There are many funds specifically designed to help survivors and families of those who lost their lives on 9/11, including the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), World Trade Center Health Program, and New York City Police Foundation. You can donate directly through these organizations, or look for opportunities in your community to contribute money or time.
• Help first responders. Your donation will go toward supporting workers who were first on site during rescue efforts in New York City after 9/11. Through this organization, you can also become an honorary member of the FDNY by paying a fee that goes toward training programs and equipment purchases for firefighters who need additional support in their lives after working at Ground Zero.
• Host a blood drive: Many volunteer organizations collect blood donations throughout the year as part of their fundraising efforts; however, this is especially important during times like September 11th when there's an increased need for blood donations because many people may be donating more than usual out of respect for those killed during this tragic event as well as others injured during rescue efforts afterward! If you're interested in doing something similar with your local community then consider hosting one yourself!

Conclusion

As we approach the 21st anniversary of 9/11, it is important to remember that even though we do not need to be at Ground Zero or any other memorials, it is still important to take time out of our day and reflect on what happened. It is also crucial for us as Americans to remember those who lost their lives that day so that we can honor them through our own actions.