Reports on the 911 disaster-related relief work

Our booths are not only food and drink supply venues, but also free grocery and pharmacy stores. We basically have everything the people need. Many people come to us because we provide good service with a loving attitude. Some even directly ask for details about our organization and discuss spiritual issues with our initiates. Particularly, the national guardsmen and policemen are very friendly to our organization. They normally check everyone's ID, even those of specialty working people. But when we change shifts, we just show our "Initiation card" and have one of our people from inside bring us in. They have observed our working attitude and are very much impressed by our group's spirit of dedication.

At the collapse site, we are a large volunteer group, consisting of many oriental faces and wearing yellow vests, which attracted local TV Channel 27 to come to interview us. They wondered why we worked so hard, from day till mid night, and we replied that we all have learned from the Supreme Master Ching Hai that we should help others who are in need without racial or religious discrimination, because we are all brothers and sisters.

3) Monetary Contributions: Apart from the above-mentioned relief efforts, the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association also contributed a total of US$170,000 to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Firefighter Memorial Fund in New York by cable remittance and check. The contribution symbolized a brotherhood between the groups in cooperation, as we joined together to pursue the same ideal of helping the victims in need. Major Schoch of the Salvation Army was surprised and happy to know that our Master was very concerned about the victims.

Fellow practitioners load a van with food and circle around the disaster site, delivering food and drinks to the hands of the volunteers.	Our booth does not merely supply food and drinks; it is virtually a free grocery and dispensary.

[New Jersey] Many years ago, Master informed the New York Center to organize rescue teams, but New York initiates never thought they would experience a major attack on their city. Upon learning of the disaster, Master was full of sorrow and called New Jersey residents more than five times to guide them in how to organize rescue teams and join in the New York Center's relief efforts.

With 20 disciples from the Boston Center, a group of fellow practitioners from the New Jersey Center drove to New York City to join members of the New York rescue team, who had joined the Salvation Army (one of the oldest rescue organizations in the U. S.) and the Red Cross to help in relief work for victims of the World Trade Center disaster and visit patients in the hospital. Many people lined up for eight hours to donate blood, and many touching events occurred, as indifferent New Yorkers finally showed their true love for each other.

Communications in New York City in the aftermath of the disaster have not been easy, so our cellular phones from New Jersey have become the main bridge between the disaster site and the relief center, and between many of our centers, since all the TV and cellular phone satellite towers on the World Trade Center totally collapsed in the September 11 explosion. Thanks to God's loving grace, all fellow practitioners in the New York area are safe and able to help others.

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