Virginia Crisis Team Returns to NYC on 9.11

A unique crisis team comprised of mental health, clergy,police chaplain, and lay volunteers has been providing pro-bono services to NYC churches since the attacks on the World Trade Center. The team returns on 9.11 to support clergy friends on the anniversary event at Madison Square Gardens and to continue counseling and training.

Press Release

FirstFruits Crisis Response
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, August 30, 2002
Contact: Stacey Scott, Administrator
(757)-466-3336

FIRSTFRUITS CRISIS RESPONSE RETURNS TO NEW YORK CITY TO CONTINUE RELIEF WORK ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF 9.11

FirstFruits Crisis Response, a Tidewater Virginia-based mental health/clergy team, will return to New York on September 11th to support clergy and community contacts on the anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center. This will be the teams 12th trip to New York since October of 2001. The team has been working with clergy, community leaders, and church counseling centers to assist with trauma services and interventions for individuals, children, and families who continue to experience emotional distress.

Members and volunteers will arrive the week of September 11th and will provide support for the memorial event at Madison Square Gardens, A Tribute To Grace and Hope. The team will also travel to Brooklyn to train volunteers working with traumatized children and will facilitate an outreach for the children on Saturday, September 15th. FirstFruits is comprised of licensed mental health professionals, clergy, police chaplains, and volunteers. Leadership are trained in Critical Incident Stress Management and Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services.
During the past year, the team has provided mental health training and direct services in lower Manhattan, Tribeca, the Lower East Side, Staten Island, Long Island, and Midtown Manhattan. Team members have worked at Ground Zero, Fresh Kills Sorting Field, and Bellevue Morgue through affiliation with the Ground Zero Clergy Task Force, Operation Blessing, World Vision, and the Salvation Army.

FirstFruits Crisis Response is committed to prevention and intervention for disabling stress responses and to the development of crisis services on a regional, national, and global level. FirstFruits is a non-profit 501C-3 corporation that has been funded by donations from individuals and groups wishing to contribute to this charitable effort. All of the professionals work pro-bono in order to provide access to all people who need mental health training or services. Volunteer applications and further information about the team can be found on FirstFruits website: www.firstfruitsonline.org.