9/11 Service Day: Honoring First Responders Through Community Action
On September 11th, 2024—twenty-three years after the attacks—our vision finally came to life. After two months of planning, Model UN SDG group watched the event we had imagined move from concept to reality.
The idea began in mid-July, when our weekly Model UN meetings brought up an idea about co-hosting a service project to honor 9/11 first responders. Having worked together for years in Model UN, we as a group quickly transformed a simple idea into a shared mission.
Identifying the Cause
Our research led us to Youth Service America, an organization offering grants for youth-led service events. As we explored how to best support those who served during the War on Terror, we identified one of the most urgent challenges facing many returning veterans: homelessness. In 2024, more than thirty thousand veterans struggled without stable housing (National Alliance to End Homelessness). We committed to creating an event that addressed this need directly.
Turning Planning Into Action
We divided responsibilities—Andrew handled the financial plan for the grant application while Elaine drafted the charity statement. Other members helped brainstorming the event preparations. Once the application was submitted, we began outreach to local veteran groups and law enforcement, inviting guest speakers from the U.S. Army and the Needham Police Department. Together, we coordinated advertising, location logistics, and media engagement.
When our project was awarded a $1,000 Youth Service America grant, it validated both our teamwork and our mission.
Event Impact
With support from volunteers and partners, we assembled over 200 hygiene and care kits for homeless veterans. These kits were delivered to Boston City Hall for the Homeless Veterans “Stand Down Day” on September 20, 2024. We also invited coverage from the Needham Channel, whose reporter captured the spirit of the event in a broadcast recap.
This project strengthened not only our technical skills—such as professional writing and event promotion—but also our understanding of true collaboration. Although all our club members used to working independently on complex projects like science fairs, organizing the 9/11 Service Day showed us how much more a team can achieve together. We learned to build on each other’s ideas, solve problems jointly, and stay united toward a shared purpose.
The 9/11 Service Day remains one of our proudest accomplishments—proof that teamwork can transform a meaningful idea into real community impact.
