Basking Ridge Group Helps Others Going Through Their Own 9/11

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Sept. 11, 2001, brought trauma but it also brought kindness when the community came together. That kindness was something Megan McDowell wanted to replicate and has kept it going 20 years later.

McDowell had been living in Colorado on that dreadful day, learning that her Basking Ridge brother-in-law John Farrell, 41, had died in the south tower of the World Trade Center. She immediately flew home to comfort her sister and their four children.

McDowell stayed in Basking Ridge for six weeks and during that time witnessed something amazing. She said she saw neighbors dropping off enough dinners for the family to eat three night's a week for almost a year. Some people even drove the kids to sports practice and helped out in any way they could.

"Just to be in that position just witnessing so much suffering every day and in the same wave of suffering right after comes a wave of kindness that really sustained the people I loved for weeks and months and years during the worst time of our lives," said McDowell.

Witnessing those acts of kindness and togetherness changed McDowell.

"I would say it woke something up in me that helped me make that connection. We can't stop bad things in our life from happening but when they do happen, we can focus on the attention, love, and helping," said McDowell.

McDowell moved back to Bernardsville to be closer to her sister and didn't want the "love fest" to be forgotten so she started Heart Works in memory of her brother-in-law.

Heartworks is a local grassroots movement of women committed to replicating and sustaining the palpable kindness witnessed in the wake after Sept. 11, 2001.

"Inspired by the mutual healing that takes place through receiving and giving, we offer hope to people in our community experiencing acute illness, injury, or grief," according to njheartworks.org.

She started off holding monthly meetings in her home where a few people would volunteer anything to help others in the community who had a private loss.

Now McDowell has a building at 19 Morristown Road in Basking Ridge where she was hosting meetings and events. She has since invited three other non-profit organizations to share the space including The Kevin J. Hannaford Sr. Foundation, Inc., Team Campbell Foundation, and Hope Autism Foundation.

Pre-pandemic, McDowell said her organization grew so much they would have galas and large events to raise money. Now, she says they are getting back to basics. Holding less meetings and doing more localized fundraisers such as collecting supplies for victims of Tropical Storm Ida.

Heartworks is also dropping off packed lunches once a month, offering pizza nights and live music to veterans at the Lyons VA Medical Center.

"The virus has shown us the importance of getting back to basics," said McDowell. "We are offering different ways to give back in the community."

On Friday, Heartworks is hosting an event at the Cider Mill to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 and honor the life of John Farrell from 5 to 9 p.m. To register click here.

"This event is to help more private situations for when people are going through their own private 9/11," said McDowell.

Additionally, during the event on Friday and on Saturday at the Heartworks building, McDowell will be signing copies of her book "Angels Over the Towers." The book talks about the events on 9/11 while showing the angels who also accompanied the many people involved on the airplanes and towers.

McDowell's niece, Molly Farrell who lost her dad John in the attacks, also got involved with the book as she narrates it in honor of her father. Watch a reading below:

To learn more about Heartworks or to make a donation visit njheartworks.org or facebook.com/heartworksnj or mail a check payable to: Heartworks, 19 Route 202, Basking Ridge NJ 07920 or email hollyfay@heartworksgroup.org.

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