Within hours of the World Trade Center attacks Art of Living volunteers went to
work on setting up public trauma workshops--and on making hundreds of Peanut Butter
and Jelly sandwiches, which they brought to the firefighters.
On the following weekend AOL volunteers had arranged music program and guided meditation
event in New York's Union Square Park that drew more than 2,000 people. Within a
few days, other Art of Living Foundation volunteers from around the country came
to help, and
free workshops to alleviate trauma, anxiety and stress have since been offered
to New Yorkers on an ongoing basis at no charge. Space for the Lower Manhattan
workshops was donated the Holiday Inn Martinique on Broadway.
I will always remember how this city rallied around its firefighters during this
tragedy, but I will remember most of all the contribution of your group.-
Battalion 32 Fire Chief James Bossert
All the firefighters were using the Hooper
Street station as a staging area. When we showed up with our duffel bags filled
with sandwiches, we saw hundreds of firefighters sitting on the curbs and on the
closed off street, looking exhausted. In dealing so thoroughly with the disaster,
they had not been able to get any food for their members.
- Noah Hoffeld,
Art of Living volunteer
We knew this was something that was greatly
needed. We are all New Yorkers here, and we thought it was important to do what
we could to help the city and nation heal.
- Tara Williams,
Holiday Inn
It was a chance to purge the sadness from my system. (There was) a real serenity,
combined with a feeling of energy.- Allan Kirsten,
Attorney
I am more centered and handling the stressful
times a lot better. In the past four days, five people have commented on how much
better I look.- Dianna Butler,
Owner of Passion for Pets.
