Contents
From the PresidentSearch
Vol.
16 No. 2
August
2002
| Vol. 16 No. 2 |
August 2002 |
New
York experience life-changing for Grenfell administrator
|
Howard Giles is joined by fellow volunteers Cynthia Gowton (L) and Beverly Adams, members of the Calvary Chapel in Philadelphia. |
 |
Life-changing"
and "overwhelming" are words that Howard Giles uses to describe
his volunteer experience at Ground Zero in New York City.
As Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Web administrator, Mr. Giles usually spends
his days fielding Web related questions and designing pages for the Grenfell
Web site. As site supervisor at a volunteer-run dining hall in NYC, his
duties were a far cry from the everyday.
Mr. Giles, a Salvation Army volunteer from the Newfoundland Western Division,
supervised and oriented new volunteers at "Sal's Café."
Sal's Café was one of three dining halls for Ground Zero operations,
each operated through a partnership between the Salvation Army and an
American catering company, Woodson's.
"We tried to keep it upbeat, especially on the night shift,"
said Mr. Giles. "On average we were seeing 100 to 250 people a night.
On day shift they would see 700 to 900 people."
Just outside Sal's Café was a memorial tent that took on the role
of a funeral home of sorts, explained Mr. Giles.
"It was a holy site for family members, a kind of memorial site,"
he said. "I got that sense from the flowers, the mementos, the letters
of appreciation."
So pivotal were the remembrances in the tent that Mr. Giles actually transcribed
one of the letters, written by an NYPD officer, known to him only as Owen.
“For those who cried with us ... we will ask ourselves how we got
through something no academy class or department memo could prepare us
for… I will tell you that these tears are driven from the emotions
of those who have come from near or far. You put your hands on our limp,
sweaty and dirty bodies. You picked us up, cleaned our faces, nourished
us, and clothed our bodies … We are rejuvenated by your selfless
acts, your willingness to sacrifice your own lives to spend time with
us at this most difficult time. Your support will carry us through all
the days of our lives, not just these.”
Mr. Giles said he often felt he was not doing enough to help, especially
when he met people like Debbie Lee, a girl from California who on Sept.
11 dropped out of school against the wishes of her family and friends,
hitchhiked to Ground Zero and has been volunteering ever since. She only
works part-time to earn money for food and lodging; otherwise, she volunteers
all her time.
"I was blown away," said Mr. Giles. "There were so many
examples. Experiencing something like that and then coming back here —
in a way I'm discontent. I was helping out in such a small way. But you're
making a difference. It was definitely a life-changing experience."