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sept. 26
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<< WTC journal entry for 9/14/01 about 5:15pm >>>>>>>
I unexpectedly ended up being free today. Headed over to the 34th street
Kmart in the rain and cold wind with my friend Matthew to purchase socks,
undies, work gloves, etc. for the rescue workers. Most of the carts people
were wheeling through the store were literally overflowing with the same,
along with many other needed supplies, such as batteries, flashlights and dog
food.
Matthew and I headed over to the Javits Center to drop off our items. We
ended up being sent over to the ferry terminal, located just a few blocks up
and just off the river. Once we got to the ferry terminal and dropped off
our donated goods, we were immediately recruited as volunteers by a
20-something named Karl who reminded me of counselors at my sleep-away camp
back in the mid-seventies, and for the next 4 hours bagged and boxed hundreds
of items for the brave folks down at ground zero.
There was a slight lull when Matthew and I first arrived at the ferry
terminal. We had just enough time to eat a quick lunch provided for free by
some thoughtful catering company, and then the immense and constant flow of
cars, SUVs and trucks came slowly motoring through the large garage. Each
was filled with supplies of all kinds, clothing, food, Gatordade, water, cell
phone equipment, hard hats, respirators, goggles, eyedrops, on and on and on.
At the same time there was also a never ending influx of people coming in on
foot who had bundles to give us.
All afternoon it was organized chaos, and there was little time to stop. I
was bagging and labeling many kinds of clothes, but tended to be in charge of
the socks, which came at me so quickly from all sides that I could barely
keep up. "Socks! Socks! Socks!" Bags and bags of socks were flying at me
from all directions. It rained socks.
The volunteers all worked well together, as if we were old friends, and even
though things happened quickly, we organized ourselves for each influx of
whatever it was that came in, sometimes even forming a long chain, like a
fire brigade, in order to pass the many boxes of whatever it was.
Matthew and I needed a break. We got some fresh air on an extremely narrow
stretch of cement, just a step off the water. We talked of the uncertainty as
we took in the beauty of the Hudson and the chilly blue sky blowing in over
Weehawken.
The amount of varied items being brought to our Ferry Terminal collecting
center was beyond immense. It was all still coming when Matthew and I left
for the day, exhausted. The area had become overwhelmed by people trying to
sign up and volunteer by then, and people were being sent away, told to come
back at 9pm or tomorrow.
As Matthew and I exited the terminal to the West Side Highway, an
announcement was made that the next truck was going to be leaving soon to
take an assortment of items down to Ground Zero. Someone down there was
going to be using my bagged and labeled socks. Someone down there was going
to use the gloves I bought, and hopefully find someone alive.
Fighter planes (two I believe) have been thundering overhead every so often. The president is currently in town and on his way down to ground zero. More flags are waving out of windows with each passing hour, candles will be in windows at 7pm EST tonight, and as I walk through the city each day I find myself exchanging silent, knowing looks with complete strangers that speak loud and clear of our shared solidarity.
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