25 Years of Remembering 9/11: Spreading Kindness

September 11, 2001, is a day our nation will never forget. Even 25 years later, we remember the 2,977 lives lost, including more than 400 first responders. We remember the families who were left grieving the loss of their loved ones. And we remember the countless heroes who stepped forward during the events of 9/11, as well as those who continued to serve and support their communities in the days, weeks, and years that followed.

In the face of unimaginable tragedy, we came together. During one of our nation’s darkest moments, acts of courage, compassion, and kindness could be seen everywhere.

Firefighters and first responders ran toward danger to help those in need. Mariners came together in an extraordinary effort to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people from Manhattan. Across the country and beyond, communities opened their doors, offered support, donated supplies, and found ways to help people who were stranded, displaced, or separated from their loved ones.

These acts of courage, compassion, and selflessness remind us of the incredible difference we can make when we choose to help one another.

We Can’t Change the Past, But We Can Carry Its Lessons Forward

At Sneade’s, community has always been at the heart of what we do, and we believe every opportunity to serve matters, no matter how big or small.

Sometimes that means an associate taking a few extra minutes to help a customer find what they need or simply offering a helping hand. Other times, we’ve been fortunate to use our place in the community to bring people together in support of something bigger.

Over the years, that has meant volunteering alongside our neighbors to rebuild a local playground, raising awareness for important causes, donating resources, supporting community events, and hosting round-ups and donation campaigns for organizations doing meaningful work. In many of these efforts, Sneade’s simply provides the platform. It’s our associates, customers, partners, and neighbors who come together and turn that opportunity into something impactful.

We’ve been fortunate to support organizations and causes including Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Capital Region Honor Flight, Children’s National (CMN), The Autism Project, Calvert County and St. Mary’s County Public Schools, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Farming 4 Hunger, Hospice, local businesses, and many more.

These experiences continue to remind us that making a difference doesn’t always require a grand gesture. It can begin with compassion, a willingness to help, and simply noticing when someone around us could use a little kindness.

That’s the spirit behind our mission of Uncommon Service. We strive to be intentional about serving others, encouraging one another, and using the opportunities we’re given to make a meaningful difference in our stores and throughout our community.

Every act of kindness counts. And when a community chooses to serve together, those individual acts can become something much bigger.

Taking Action: #11DaysOfKindness

Following the attacks on September 11, the closure of American airspace caused hundreds of flights to be diverted, including flights that landed in communities throughout Canada. Thousands of unexpected travelers suddenly found themselves far from home.

Those communities responded with extraordinary kindness. Residents provided food, shelter, transportation, supplies, and comfort to complete strangers during a time of tremendous uncertainty.

One of those stranded travelers was Kevin Tuerff. Inspired by the kindness he experienced, he later created Pay It Forward 9/11, encouraging others to honor September 11 through acts of kindness and service.

Twenty-five years later, we want to help carry that same spirit forward.

From September 1st through September 11th, we’re inviting our Sneade’s associates, customers, friends, families, and the entire Southern Maryland community to join us for #11DaysOfKindness.

For 11 days, let’s intentionally look for opportunities to serve one another.

Not because every act will change the world, but because one small act may change someone’s day. And that kindness may inspire them to do the same for someone else.

How Can You Participate?

Kindness doesn’t have to be a grand gesture.

You don’t need a special event, a donation campaign, or an organization behind you to make a meaningful difference. Sometimes all it takes is noticing the person in front of you and choosing to help.

The goal is simple: do something kind for someone else.

Here are a few ways you can pay it forward:

  • Hold the door open for someone.
  • Give someone a genuine compliment.
  • Ask someone how their day is going, and take the time to listen.
  • Offer to help someone who could use an extra hand.
  • Pay for the person behind you in line.
  • Donate items you no longer need.
  • Let someone go ahead of you in line.
  • Pick up litter in your community.
  • Return a stray shopping cart.
  • Support a local business by shopping small or leaving a positive review.
  • Participate in a charitable round-up or donation drive.
  • Write a thank-you card to a first responder.
  • Check in on a neighbor, friend, co-worker, or family member.
  • Thank someone who has made a difference in your life.
  • Encourage someone who may need to hear something positive today.

However you choose to participate, we encourage you to keep the kindness going. Tell someone what you’re doing. Invite a friend, family member, or co-worker to join you. Share your act of kindness using #11DaysOfKindness and inspire someone else to pay it forward.

One good deed can lead to another, creating a ripple that reaches farther than we may ever know.

Twenty-five years later, we continue to remember the lives lost, the heroes who answered the call to serve, and the extraordinary compassion shown by ordinary people.

We cannot change the past, but we can choose what we carry forward from it.

Through kindness, compassion, servant leadership, and uncommon service, we can honor their memory not only with our words, but through the way we treat and serve one another.

This September, join us in remembering through action.

#11DaysOfKindness | September 1–11