SoCalYEA Marks 25th Anniversary of 9/11 with 650 Care Packages for First Responders

Keyang Pang | Irvine

Handwritten thank-you cards, tumblers and small snacks filled the tables Saturday morning as high school volunteers gathered in Irvine to assemble 650 care packages for local first responders, including police officers, firefighters, 911 dispatchers and emergency medical personnel.

The Sept. 5 event, organized by the Southern California Youth Engagement Association (SoCalYEA), marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 and brought together young volunteers, community members and local officials to thank the people who help keep the community safe.

Each package included a reusable tote bag, a thank-you card, a tumbler, lip balm and snacks such as beef jerky. SoCalYEA Executive Director Kristy Chen said the items were simple, but the message behind them was important.

“These things are small, but we hope they can show our first responders that we appreciate them,” Chen said. “They keep our community safe, and when we need them most, they are there to protect and support us. We just want to say thank you.”

For many of the students, the 25th anniversary of 9/11 has a special meaning because they were either too young to remember the attacks or were not yet born.

Sakura Nagai, a junior at Woodbridge High School and a youth leader with SoCalYEA, said young people can still take part in remembering 9/11 by helping others.

“Even if you weren’t there when it happened, you can still make an impact in small ways,” Nagai said. “No matter your age or where you were, if you can do your part, it means something. I think the most important thing is coming together as a community and helping people who need us.”

Portola High School student Ryan, who learned about SoCalYEA through social media and friends, volunteered at the event for the first time. He helped prepare shirts, Slim Jim snacks and thank-you cards for first responders.

“As a young person, I think it’s really great to be able to help people who work hard for our city and for all of us,” Ryan said. “It gives us a chance to show our appreciation and gratitude.”

SoCalYEA member Aiden Hackett, a high school senior, said the event helped bring attention to both the anniversary of 9/11 and the work of first responders. He also said volunteer projects give students opportunities to meet people, build connections and serve their community.

Athena Yang, the co-president of SoCalYEA, said the organization’s members are primarily students in grades 9 through 12 from schools across Orange County, including Beckman High School and Woodbridge High School. SoCalYEA focuses on youth leadership, community service and intergenerational connections, with programs designed to give young people opportunities to serve others and connect with older adults.

The organization has previously brought students to senior centers to perform and interact with older adults, as well as organized projects to create thank-you cards for first responders.

The event also drew support from local elected officials and their representatives. Dr. Jeff Kim, president of the Irvine Unified School District, praised the students for spending their Saturday morning preparing care packages for first responders and said the effort reflected what the community chooses to remember and value.

Representing California State Sen. Steven Choi’s office, John Ding thanked SoCalYEA for giving the community an opportunity to recognize first responders on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Michael Tou, district director for California Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, thanked the students for their year-round community service.

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, who represents part of Irvine, said she was encouraged to see so many young people getting involved.

“Seeing so many young people care about their community and want to serve others makes me feel really good about the future,” Foley said.

SoCalYEA was initially founded to promote youth leadership, civic engagement and community service. As its programs have expanded, the organization has also focused on older adults and intergenerational connections.

For the students who gathered in Irvine, assembling 650 small care packages was a simple way to mark 25 years since 9/11 while recognizing the first responders who continue to serve their communities every day.