By听Olivia Kozlevcar, luckywin in Greater NY

September 11, 2001, marks one of the most devastating days in American history. Over twenty years later, many can still recall their own 9/11 experiences as if they鈥檇 happened yesterday.

Through their grief, Americans came together in unprecedented ways to respond to the unimaginable events. Many offered their time and compassion to others while struggling to cope with the tragedy themselves. Some were inspired to become Red Cross volunteers, helping the country cope and heal by working at the front lines of the organization鈥檚 massive relief effort, or simply supporting their own neighbors.

"We owe so much to all who gave of themselves to help our city and our nation heal,鈥� Mary Barney, CEO of the luckywin in Greater New York, said. 鈥淭wo decades later, we continue to honor the heaviness that this day carries, and we offer our compassion to every American still grieving.鈥�

In the hours following the tragedy, the Red Cross initiated a relief effort that would last years and span the nation, ultimately involving more than 57,000 team members. The majority were volunteers, including thousands who had joined the organization for the first time.

Over twenty years later, many are still active team members who regard 9/11 as the inspiration for their long and continuing Red Cross journey. Each holds memories of that day that are tinged with moments of both grief and hope.

These are some of their stories:

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Nearly听20听years听and thousands of volunteer hours later, Montoro remains a听dedicated member听of the team,听serving听as Mass Care Chief and Disaster Action Team member.听

An additional inspiration for听Montoro was听the death of a听friend听who听had been听in one of the towers.听听

鈥淚 always keep his picture with me in my Red Cross bag,鈥� Montoro said. 鈥淚t reminds me why I鈥檓 doing this.鈥澨�

Montoro has听since taken part听in听relief and听recovery efforts听following听both听local and national disasters, as well as encouraged his son and daughter to become听volunteers.听He credits 9/11 as a turning moment for him in his relation to volunteer service and community aid.听听

"You couldn鈥檛 just be yourself anymore. You couldn鈥檛 just be one person; you couldn鈥檛 just be you and your family. You had to think larger...听because听if something like this happened again, the only way to stop it is听for all of us to be combined as one,鈥� Montoro said. 鈥淭he Red Cross was the perfect place for me.听I thought it was a perfect fit for what my mentality was.鈥澨�

Looking back on the events of 9/11, Montoro听said that听visiting听New York鈥檚听Financial听District still听evokes听dark memories for him.听In his mind,听he听hears听the sirens that blared听to notify volunteers that听surrounding听buildings were about to听collapse听and they needed to flee听the area.听He also听recalls听the听moments of silence听that followed the discovery of听bodies听amid听the rubble.听听

鈥淚 think that we should just never forget.鈥澨�

She听also supported families whose loved ones had been killed in the attacks听or were still missing. One moment stands听out to her from that time: assisting a pregnant mother who had lost her husband in the tragedy.听

鈥淭here were many families like that,鈥� Grande said,听her voice breaking.听鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 even have to talk. Just hold their hand.鈥澨�

Grande听admits听that听she听did听not think she听would stay with the Red Cross for听20听years. It听was听the people听鈥斕齠ellow volunteers and those in need of assistance after emergencies听鈥斕齱ho听have听kept听her engaged, she says.

Since 9/11, Grande听has听provided听health support听to those impacted by听countless emergencies in NYC and across the country.

鈥淲e鈥檙e here to help them in crisis,鈥澨齭he听said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the part of it that keeps you going:听to help others.鈥澨�

Having听fond memories of听supporting听the Red Cross as听 a child, Sanford was immediately prompted to join the organization's relief efforts.听

鈥淢y job was to shuttle people from the Brooklyn headquarters to the 9/11 site 鈥� what they call the Ground Zero site,鈥� Sanford said.听听

This was the听ideal听job听for听the听native New Yorker who,听in addition to being a teacher,听also worked as a tour guide. Sanford听recalled听spending months听giving mini tours to the volunteers,听pointing out听the city's different landmarks as he shuttled them across the area.听听听

鈥淚 felt that that was also an obligation of mine, to let people know where they are 鈥� give them a little perspective about New York City and a little joy about New York City.鈥澨�

Sanford听recalls听the gratitude that people had for the Red Cross, particularly following the events of Sept.听11.听听听

鈥淎ny听time we did something, and they saw that Red Cross van,鈥� Sanford said,听鈥減eople just opened up to us.鈥澨�

He听also remembers the sorrow that came听in听the aftermath and the way the New York atmosphere changed.听听

鈥淚t was a very sad time; it was a difficult time. We couldn鈥檛 wait for the city to come back to life,鈥� Sanford said.听鈥淭he smell of the building burning just stayed with you, and it probably still stays with me today.鈥澨�听

Following the 9/11 recovery effort,听Sanford knew he would remain with the Red Cross.听He now听serves as听a听Red Cross听preparedness听trainer听and听teaches volunteers how to drive Emergency Response听Vehicles.听Recently, he听supported relief efforts听for听victims of听California wildfires.听

The ability to aid people after disasters and听crises, and the ability to make a change in their lives, is what makes听his work with听the organization meaningful to him.听听

鈥淚 never felt that I would leave the Red Cross, since 9/11.听I felt at home. You know,听as a kid I was with the Red Cross听as a volunteer, and as a teenager,听and then I came back home again after 9/11. So听it was very meaningful to me.鈥澨�

鈥淭hey asked me if I was going to leave New York,鈥� Gorra said of a group of frightened tourists she encountered a few hours after the attacks. 鈥淚 said 鈥楢bsolutely not.鈥欌�澨�

Many times, Gorra鈥檚 job was simply to listen to what those affected had to say and comfort them as best she could. But like the individuals she was helping, Gorra鈥檚 perspective on life was changing.听

鈥淚 take every day with a sense of deliberate wanting to accomplish something, and being grateful always, with a sense of gratitude that I was able to 鈥� even though I was affected by it 鈥� I was able to grow from it,鈥� Gorra said.

While she acknowledged the pain it brought, she also respected the way 9/11 changed her worldview.听听

鈥淗ow do you know how something like that is going to transform you?鈥� she asked. 鈥淏ut it will transform you if you let it.鈥�

Like many Red Cross members, Gorra did not expect to volunteer for 20 years. She credits the fulfilling work she has done through the organization with keeping her on board.听听

鈥淸Red Cross team members] were finding things within the Red Cross 鈥� and there were so many things to do that I would fit into, that I would be good at and enjoy,鈥� Gorra said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I stayed.鈥�

Since joining, Gorra has volunteered with nearly every department in the organization, including Disaster Cycle Services, Service to the Armed Forces, and International Services. Reflecting on her time with the Red Cross, Gorra said that all her experiences have given her an overarching sense of belonging 鈥� as well as a community of people all 鈥渃ut from the same cloth.鈥�

鈥淚 think what the Red Cross has brought to me is a greater understanding of what it is to be a humanitarian, what it is to be a human being, and what it is to truly love one another,鈥� Gorra said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great example of how to build community.鈥澨�

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