America watched the tragic scenes at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in horror last September, as terrorists turned commercial airplanes into weapons of mass destruction. Thousands of people were trapped in the burning infernos, with little chance to escape. It seemed like a terrible disaster movie, but of course it was real.

Here in the Heartland, people were angry.  They wanted answers, justice and revenge…and a way to help the thousands of victims and their families. Generous people in our community donated more than $6 million to various charities.  People who contributed to the September 11^th Fund and the Red Cross were giving money to help strangers in other cities, but it turns out they were helping some of their neighbors as well.

About a dozen Kansas City area families had loved ones killed, injured or missing in the attacks. Some worked at the World Trade Center, others were there attending training that day. Most victims with local ties were grown children or brothers, sisters and cousins of area families….but three were main breadwinners in their families.

• Randy Drake was working on a computer networking design job for Siemens Corporation for the New York Mass Transit Authority. He was working in the building across the street, which was evacuated after the first attack. Randy was injured and later died after being struck on the head by falling debris from the second plane that rammed the World Trade Center.

• Julie Geis was a Senior Vice President of Aon Corporation, which had offices in the World Trade Center. She was on the 102^nd Floor of the World Trade Center attending a meeting, when the second plane slammed into tower II. Her body has never been found.

• Shannon Beavers, International Customer Service Manager of Emery Expedite!, was attending a training seminar on the 55^th floor of Tower I. She escaped, but it took her 45 minutes to get out of the building. On the way she inhaled fumes from the burning jet fuel, chemicals and large amounts of dust and debris. She spent hours on the streets of New York trying to find a safe place to go, suffering an asthmatic condition that made it impossible for her to work for months.

Victims and their families were left dazed and confused by the enormous tragedy. The thought of claiming any money donated to help victims was the last thing on their minds. Tammy Drake spoke with her husband Randy on the cell phone just after the first attack. Later, she learned that falling debris from the second plane critically injured him. She rushed to Randy’s side in New York and later brought him back to Kansas City where he died 11 days later.

Julie Geis’ domestic partner, Rebecca was in New York with her at the time of the attack. She was back at the hotel. Rebecca spent several days searching for Julie, hoping and praying before deciding there was noting she could do. She drove to Nebraska to be with Julie’s mother.

After several hours of chaos and confusion, Shannon Beavers managed to get to a friend’s house where she stayed until she could catch a train to Philadelphia. Her family drove out to bring her back to Kansas City.

During the ensuing weeks and months Randy and Julie’s families grieved and made funeral arrangements, while Shannon had breathing problems that prevented her from working. They didn’t think too much about financial assistance available for victims and their families until creditors began reminding them that some of their bills were overdue. That’s when they turned to United Way and the Red Cross for help. All agreed, they felt uncomfortable asking for assistance, but they found the Kansas City staff of United Way and the Red Cross anxious to help.

Today, Shannon and the families of the other two victims say the United Way and Red Cross did far more than they expected. They have all received between $22,000 and $48,000 from United Way’s September 11^th Fund and American Red Cross’ Gift Fund to pay for things like funeral expenses, house and car payments, and hospital bills. Shannon says, "It’s really wonderful that the funds exist. It has been a traumatic time. The paperwork for disability and workman’s compensation was overwhelming. If folks from the United Way and the Red Cross hadn’t personally helped me fill out the paperwork, I doubt I would have applied."

Tammy and Joe, the couple’s 17-year-old son, both deeply miss Randy. Tammy said, "Randy’s smile lit up his face. I miss his positive outlook and his zest for life. He always gave 110% in whatever he did." She added, "I can never repay the kindness and generosity of the American people. I just hope that someday I can be half as generous and kind as people have been to me in the worst period of my life. All I can say is thank you and it doesn’t seem to be enough, but I do mean it from the bottom of my heart."