Hundreds of volunteers reclaim 9/11 and make the day about service
Hundreds of volunteers gathered at Belmont’s Curb Center to pack meals.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Nearly everyone remembers where they were on Sept. 11, 2001.
“I was living in Georgia. I was prepared to go to work watching TV...I remember the shock, is this real?” said Connie Gleaton as she packed meals. ”We had friends in New York and my compassion and heart went out to them, didn’t know what was happening.”
Gleaton and other volunteers, 23 years later, took the opportunity to flip the tragic day and make it more about service and giving back.
More than 800 volunteers gathered at Belmont’s Curb Center to create over 200,000 meals. The food will be given to families battling food insecurity in the Nashville area.
The number is part of 30,000 volunteers who participated in over 20 cities.
”We’ve taken back our day from 9/11 we need more kindness in the community,” Gleaton said.
Marti Skold-Jordan, one of the event sponsors for Tractor Supply, said they want to make something of the day.
“A lot of families that were impacted by 9/11 and while they had the incredible sadness and impact on their families they said we want to take that day back,” Skold-Jordan said.
The event was put on by 9/11 Day, AmeriCorps, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, and Belmont University. Meals of Hope also helped provide the meals.
“We packed tons and tons of food bags of apple cinnamon oatmeal and you think of someone on the other end of that that’s going to need that that is a day of definite service,” Skold-Jordan said.
“We’re just proud to be here today to represent the community. The community needs kindness,” Gleaton said.
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