Warm Holidays for Families of September
11 Victims
by Tzu-Ding Kung
NEW YORK-Volunteers present Christmas
gifts to families of September 11 tragedy victims.
As the year 2001 ends, the City of New
York has collected toys, clothes, books and blankets from
all over the U.S. for families in need.
A distribution of gifts was held for three
days starting on December 16 at the Family Assistance Center
at Pier 94 in New York City. Twenty Tzu Chi volunteers from
New York and New Jersey helped decorate the center and arrange
a display of gifts.
In 21 booths set up along a 230-foot-long
hallway, volunteers from Tzu Chi and other organizations handed
out presents. The volunteers wore big smiles and kept a cheerful
attitude throughout the day.
Gifts from the heart
The presents had been donated by businesses,
organizations, and individuals. Many gifts came with heartfelt
notes to families of victims.
One such gift was a quilt made by students
and teachers from Helms Elementary School in Houston, Texas.
The note said, "Every student brought a piece of cloth
from home to make this quilt for you. It comes with our great
respect for the people of New York. We can get through this
difficult time together."
A teacher from the Daylight/Twilight Program
brought in another quilt in the pattern of the U.S. flag.
She said her forty students took seven weeks to complete the
quilt.
One donor even gave a blanket that had
been passed down to him from his great-grandmother.
Altogether there were 1,500 blankets and
comforters for families of victims.
Sadness and strength
Many of the families looked better than
three months ago, but some still could not hide their sadness.
Mrs. Tseng shed tears while speaking of
her son, who died while helping people at the World Trade
Center.
Young-De Lee, a Tzu Chi volunteer, also
died in the tragedy. His wife said she had been studying Buddhism
for several years and so she was able to cope with the sadness
of losing her husband.
Pin-chien Kim and wife, Korean-Americans
from New Jersey, lost their 26-year-old son. They were Christian,
and Tzu Chi was the first Buddhist organization that gave
them emergency funds. Mr. Kim appreciated all the warmth around
him.
On the first day of this event, more than
3,000 families took bags of presents back home. It was only
30 degrees Fahrenheit in New York, but the love among people
warmed the hearts of everyone.
