History of September 11^th First Responders Appreciation Program

Founded September 11, 2002 by Audraine Jackson

September 11^th of 2001 is forever etched into my memory. Like when people say they remember where they were when President John Kennedy was shot or they recall exactly the moment they heard of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s passing. Those dates marked major turning points in American history that forever changed the course of our future.  9/11 was marked by images of first responders rushing to the scene to save people, coordinate rescue efforts and assist with evacuation. I’m certain most didn’t give it a second thought as they are trained to respond in emergencies. Panic and mayhem that followed seem to come straight out of a Hollywood script. When the buildings began to collapse and people ran for their lives as steel and granite crumbled around them, the faces of terrorized New Yorkers made me feel more connected to my country than ever before. My heart went out to those innocent victims but also to those who rushed to the building to save others, many of whom lost their lives as well. I immediately felt the pain that comes with a nation mourning a great tragedy. My empathy for the victims at the time overshadowed my desire to know the name of the culprit. When it was finally revealed that Osama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network was behind the evil acts, my sorrow gave way to anger.

I admit in my small world of influence I was not sure how to channel my emotions into something positive to make a difference. In 2002, the first year of the anniversary I established the September 11^th First Responders Appreciation Day. I gathered food, beverages and snacks in large quantities, dressed them in beautiful baskets and delivered them to police and fire stations in my community. Both locations seem surprised but happy to see me. I gave a few words thanking them for their courage and protection, letting them know the food gifts were in honor of those who gave their lives in the tragedy.

By September 2003, I repeated my previous actions adding a few more stations, creating a ritual where I would hold a prayer first, provide a written document of appreciation, take pictures and leave the first responders to enjoy their treats. Every year I repeated the same ritual and each year it got bigger and better. I partnered with a local radio personality, Si-Man Baby who shared my sentiments. The first responders got a kick out of hearing their names and station numbers announced on radio.  I added more police and fire stations when money was good and scaled back when it was tight. I changed the menu from just snacks, food gifts and beverages to all out feasts delivering trays of deli items along with beverages, plates and napkins. The ritual became more ceremonial as years passed. My mother helped cook some of the food in her southern way adding barbeque chicken and potato salad. The first grocery store I partnered with provided a discount when they found out what I was doing. They closed their deli department when they moved to a new location so I went a few blocks further down the road to another grocery store, Publix, whose manager provided a discount when he was made aware of what I was doing.

Eventually I got to know almost everyone’s name at each location. One captain of a fire station retired and I kept the regular ritual going with his replacement. Every year they looked for me and every year I was there, getting bigger and better with my feasts. Every year new faces would pop up and would glance in amazement that someone showed appreciation. One year at one location, firefighters were headed from their station to eat at a gathering at a union office several miles away. They turned the truck around on cue and returned to the station thanking me for keeping them at home and saving them a trip across town.  That same station later adopted a stray dog who greeted us at the door and became a part of our celebration.  The observance grew wider to give special recognition to first responders lost in the line of duty. I first recognized Officers Richard Halford and Shawn Smiley in 2013 killed during a helicopter search for a missing child. In 2015, I recognized the service of Fulton County Officer Terence Avery Green who lost his life in a violent ambush in the service of duty.

Some years were good financially but most years it was a struggle to figure out how to feed so many people. On most occasions the grocery store would discount the bill. Sometimes people gave monetary contributions to help offset costs. One year I thought, this is too hard. I considered abandoning the event. There were many times where I would put the food costs on my credit card and pay it off later. I sometimes felt it was too much for me to bear, especially if I had to go it alone. But I would think of the faces of the people, the men and women who looked forward to me showing up, not just for the food but for the once a year acknowledgement of their bravery. In 2007, my older sister unexpectedly died. To my surprise, the responders who worked to keep her alive for one more week were at the station when I arrived. They gave me precious last minute accounts of my sister’s life, what she said and her state of mind, details that comforted me as I was sorely grieving her death. It confirmed that I had to keep doing this, no matter what obstacle was in place.

The 2009 year was the leanest of all. I didn’t know how I was going to make it. My normal partners couldn’t give as much due to job cutbacks. The nation was in a deep recession. The grocery store cut back telling managers they couldn’t give discounts anymore. I thought about cancelling it but I just couldn’t. I stayed up long nights trying to figure out a solution. Then the corporate office of the grocery chain said if I had a nonprofit sponsor they could give me a store discount. I contacted the local elected official in the district where the stations were located explaining the story. He was shocked to find I had been doing this on my own for so long without asking for more help from larger sources. He provided the nonprofit status and gave me a personal cash donation.  After the store discount and cash donation my bill was cut in half. I paid half cash and half credit for the balance but made it to another successful year of giving. When I arrived at the locations, I could instantly see it was worth all the effort in the faces of the people on duty. After my customary prayer, remarks and hand shaking, I expected to leave as usual. But this time was different. They insisted I sit down, chat and eat with them. Many told me at station after station that I was their hero. They thanked me for not forgetting them and acknowledging their sacrifices. Some were feeling unappreciated until I showed up. Others who were new and just hearing of the event were surprised to learn that someone cared and had carried on a tradition for so long. One first responder said the community appreciation for first responders had long disappeared after the first few years of the attack.

When I got home that night I realized the word “hero” had a new meaning. It’s not just a person who courageously saves lives or sacrifices their safety for others. It can be defined as a person who steps out of their comfort zone, with commitment and care to give to others repeatedly no matter what obstacles may be in their path. Those firefighters thought I was a hero to them.  That made me chuckle. We had bonded and become family, real community, something that likely would not have happened if the events of September 11^th 2001 had not taken place. In 2013 I buried my mother only a month prior to the ceremony, realizing the matriarch of the program who led prayers each year had slipped away. I fought back tears of grief as I compiled contribution letters to government and community supporters. It was my mother’s strength that kept me going to stand in the gap for first responders while I was at my spiritual lowest. I dedicated the program in her memory.

In March 2017 a fire broke out on Interstate 85 causing the bridge to burn and collapse. Firefighters on site had only moments to move and relocate before becoming potential victims of falling debris. I honored their bravery and told the world their story that year.

It has been many years since the original horrible acts of evil took place. They thought they had destroyed my country and killed the American spirit. Some overseas celebrated in the streets, danced and chanted death to America. What started out as a simple act to remember the spirit of those who sacrificed their lives in bravery has become a mainstay of gratitude and recognition for local first responders. The events of 2016 made recognition of first responders more important than ever. Chief David Brown in Dallas, Texas said after losing several officers to a violent ambush, “We don’t get support most days. Please don’t make today like most days.”

In 2019 we organized the program under a nonprofit, J&V Cares, Inc. in the name of my parents James and Victoria Jackson whose commitment to the Atlanta community inspired my actions. I’ve had others who asked for details of the program to duplicate what I am doing in their communities. A local radio station has partnered with the program and helped us tell the stories of our everyday heroes on air for the community to know more about their courageous acts. This experience has taught me you don’t have to be rich, famous or connected to give back or make a difference. All you need are the three C’s – commitment, consistency and caring. Small actions can have a lasting effect on others if you just take that first step. I don’t kid myself. I know I am not changing the entire world. But there is now concrete evidence Osama’s evil acts eventually gave birth to a legacy of goodwill and kindness among Americans.  I will be there again, God willing, this September 11th — giving, bonding and praying with my community. What some thought would destroy us brought us together in ways never imagined before 2001. Random acts of evil will never kill the spirit that lives in America, no matter what evil people might perpetrate among the masses. I am a living witness. History has forever changed me and my community for the better.

Audraine Jackson, Founder

First Responders Appreciation Program