On September 11, 2026, dozens of Gads Hill Center youth participants, team members, and Pilsen community members came together for Neighbors Helping Heroes: 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Through hands-on service and a visit with local firefighters, participants honored the first responders who gave their lives on September 11, 2001.

AmeriCorps and 9/11 Day encourage communities nationwide to honor the anniversary through acts of service—a call our participants put into practice right here in Pilsen.

Packing Bags and Giving Back

Volunteers packed bags with homemade sandwiches, care items, and handwritten cards and letters, then distributed them to neighbors, firefighters, and police officers. Older youth helped plan how to distribute the bags and were eager to take an active role.

“It was also cool to be able to make and give the bags out not only to the firefighters but to the police too,” said a Building Leaders student, age 13.

For children accustomed to receiving support from these community members, the project offered a chance to return that kindness.

Connecting with Community Role Models

The nearby firehouse is already a familiar and exciting part of our participants’ neighborhood. Children greet firefighters outside the station, and a friendly honk from a passing fire truck can make their day. Local firefighters and Chicago Police Department officers also support our youth through donations, including gifts at Christmas.

During the visit, participants explored a fire truck and spoke with firefighters about their work, fire safety, and the history of 9/11.

“I feel like it was nice to go to the fire department and see what they do and what they experience in their job,” said a Club 4 student, age 12.

Learning Gratitude Through Service

Many children expected a familiar classroom lesson about 9/11. Instead, activities drawing on lesson plans from the 9/11 Day website helped them explore gratitude and what it means to offer help, as well as receive it.

“I feel grateful that I can help, and what I learned is that a lot of people need help that we don’t know about, and we should be grateful for what we have,” said a Club 2 student, age 8. “I felt proud and helpful to be able to help pack the bags and pass the bags out with my mom.”

The day gave participants an opportunity to remember those lost on 9/11 while practicing care for the people in their own community.