As the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 approaches, we’re reminded not just of the tragic events of that day, but also of the resolute spirit of New Yorkers. In the days and months after the attacks, New Yorkers were galvanized to rebuild and help each other return to a sense of normalcy. The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) was one of the first organizations to provide emergency assistance through its World Trade Center Relief Fund, offering immediate aid, long-term care and youth development programming. More than 5,000 individuals and families turned to CAS for emergency cash assistance, mental health and grief counseling, legal assistance, healthcare referrals, job training and other services to help them through that difficult time.
The months that followed gave way to stories like that of Luis Velez, an airline food service worker. The attacks crippled the airline industry, and even after commercial travel resumed, food service on most aircraft was suspended, leaving many workers, like Luis, without jobs. But the World Trade Center Relief Fund, through partnerships with unions, was there to help.