Convoy of Hope’s 9/11 Response and the Hands That Helped

Decades after the events of September 11, 2001, the world is still being affected by the attack that brought down the Twin Towers in New York City and left a nation in mourning.

Patty and Rev. Norm Teed were leading a small church in Seneca Falls, New York, at the time and stepped up to help. Their paths converged with Convoy of Hope at our Ground Zero responses when Convoy was a small organization. The Teeds recently served at a packing event in our World Distribution Center, and it left Patty speechless to see how small beginnings had grown.

“For us to serve in the warehouse was a full circle moment, after 23 years,” Patty said. 

‘I prayed a bold prayer’

The Teeds were serving with the New York City School of Urban Ministry and Intensive Care Ministry NYC a month before the attack. In the days following September 11, phone lines were down and the couple was waiting to hear how they could help. At their Wednesday prayer meeting, Patty made a move that started their church’s response journey.

“I prayed a bold prayer, asking God to bring big trucks. I asked Him to help us meet this huge need.”

Then Norm got the call: “We need pastors and chaplains at Ground Zero while police and firefighters are in search and recovery efforts.”

The miracles kept happening. Truck drivers started calling Patty offering their vehicles. Community members from around the Fingerlakes Region donated supplies to help fill them. They moved operations to the School of Urban Ministry, where they stayed and packed boxes full of supplies to go to Ground Zero. Patty said they never turned down a donation.

“Every single truck that came had something we needed,” she added.

Norm, along with other pastors and faith leaders, wore a clerical collar so first responders could recognize him as a person they could pray with. He and other faith leaders accompanied crew members to Ground Zero every day, meeting faith needs but also becoming part of the rescue and recovery effort alongside service men and women. 

“I was surprised how many first responders would come up to us before we even got to them, asking for prayer,” Norm said.

A young organization helps out

At the time, Convoy’s Disaster Services team was brand new. We’d responded to a few hurricanes, but nothing compared to the impact seen after the September 11 attacks. 

The country had never experienced an event like this before. Everyone did what they could, including Convoy of Hope. Convoy’s first truckload of relief supplies left the World Distribution Center for the East Coast within 24 hours of the attack.

What we saw — and what people like Norm and Patty served through — was a city in shock.

“There were probably three weeks where you could hear a pin drop in New York City,” former Convoy of Hope team member Mike Ennis said. “I’ve never seen the city that way before or since.”

Our team, along with the Teeds and other volunteers, served at the Homeport recovery center on Staten Island, where thousands of firefighters, rescue workers, and National Guard members were supported as they responded. Convoy helped provide hot meals, supplies, shower facilities, and beds that could be a respite after long hours serving across the harbor.

While her team was there, Patty said they received cans from Convoy of Hope — each came with a location on the side showing where they were donated from. Each also came with a note on the side:

“You’re not alone.”

“We’ve got your back.”

“We’re praying for you.” 

The work continues

Walking into the packing event on July 20 this year, Patty says all those memories came flooding back.

“It was almost like I was at Ground Zero, seeing God’s hand on a large scale again,” she said. “It reminded me that it doesn’t matter how small you are — He is bigger than your dream.”

Patty and Norm continue to serve in practical ways. Norm’s experience at Ground Zero led him to continue serving first responders as an NYS Code Enforcement Officer and Fire Marshall, then on to serve in various ways across Missouri, currently as Chaplain with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.

The miracles continue, too. Despite chronic health challenges from working at Ground Zero and a lung cancer diagnosis in October 2023, Norm was declared cancer-free in January.

Convoy of Hope continues to respond to disasters and help those facing the impossible. This year and every year, we remember.