NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Throughout the summer, WCBS Newsradio 880 is presenting a series of reports looking ahead to the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Our series, "Rising from the Ashes," tells stories that inspire and teach; stories that honor the sacrifices of that day and how that work continues to impact the lives of others 20 years later.
Two decades after the terror attacks, those who lost loved ones are still channeling their grief to help others.
Mary Fetchet, whose son was killed on Sept. 11, hosted support groups at her New Canaan home early on to help people navigate grief.
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The clinical social worker, along with Beverly Eckert, started the nonprofit Voices of September 11th.
"Still today we receive calls from people that we've never heard from before 20 years later," Fetchet said.
Voices of September 11th supported families, addressed long-term mental health, coordinated with the medical examiner, pushed for the 9/11 Commission and advised the designers of the memorial.
Today, they're focused on the 83,000 responders and survivors in treatment.
"For many years we saw so many of these people telling us about the cancer they developed, you could see with your own eyes that they had PTSD," Fetchet said.
Over the years, the mission has expanded and Fetchet strives to heal other communities scarred by mass violence.
The lessons of Sept. 11 and other traumatic events have been put into a preparedness manual.
"And whenever there's a tragedy we're available to step forward and provide the information and support that's needed," Fetchet said.
Twenty years later, it's time for the group to turn the page. Voices of September 11th is now called Voices Center for Resilience.
According to its website, the nonprofit "assists communities in preparing for and recovering from traumatic events and provides long-term support and resources that promote mental health care and wellness for victims’ families, responders and survivors."
"Voices Center for Resilience, formerly known as Voices of September 11th, builds upon our unique legacy of providing long-term support for the 9/11 community, while sharing our nearly two decades of expertise to assist those impacted by other tragedies in the United States and abroad," the website reads.
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