“As head of the Volunteer [Minister] activities at Ground Zero, I made sure that every volunteer was pitching in as much as possible. “We were asked for everything. Trust me, we were the people that you came to no matter what you wanted.” — Bunny Dubin Volunteer Minister

Within hours of the World Trade Center collapse, New York Volunteer Ministers, with others from across the United States and as far away as Hungary, were on the site. They worked around the clock to provide food, clothing, gear and other necessities to rescue crews. They offered mental and spiritual relief to exhausted police and firefighters to overcome stress, fatigue and shock, and provided help and succor to those whose friends and family were lost in the tragedy.

While rescue and recovery efforts continued for weeks on end, the Volunteer Ministers never faltered in their constant assistance. In fact, as order was re-established in the surrounding areas, and the disaster area blocked off, the Volunteer Minister team was one of only three relief groups allowed to enter the site.

A New York Times news service account of Ground Zero activity reported, “When many volunteers were asked to clear out over the weekend, the Scientologists were allowed to stay, working alongside groups like the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.”

Later, Police Chief Joseph Esposito singled out the Volunteer Ministers for their assistance, praising their vital contribution to the World Trade Center relief effort:

“The organization, the caring, and the dedication of your Volunteer Ministers were exceptional, and very much appreciated, and will long be remembered by those who received their help... I cannot thank the Volunteer Ministers enough.”

The results of their care at Ground Zero are best expressed in the words of gratitude from both those who survived the devastation and those who worked in its wake:

“What I witnessed with the Scientology ministers I have never witnessed with any of the other organizations,” said a Manhattan emergency medical technician. “In the beginning others were not available. Who was available from the beginning were the Scientology ministers.”

Contact us at stevenscreek@scientology.net for more information on becoming a Volunteer Minister or receiving help.