Mychal's Message

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Mychal’s Message Marks 25th Annual “Blessed Bloomers” Distribution with Tribute to Ground Zero Heroes

New socks and underwear will be distributed to people experiencing homelessness in New York City on Sunday, September 6, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks

LANCASTER, Pa. — Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Mychal’s Message will return to the streets of New York City to honor the legacy of beloved FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Judge, OFM, and the countless heroes who served at Ground Zero in the hours, days, weeks, and months that followed.

On Sunday, September 6, 2026, Mychal’s Message will hold its 25th annual Blessed Bloomers distribution, providing new socks and underwear to people experiencing homelessness and poverty on the bread line at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City.

This year’s collection and distribution is dedicated to all those who served at Ground Zero—firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, construction workers, volunteers, clergy, and countless others who responded with extraordinary courage and compassion. Many later developed cancers and other illnesses associated with their service, and some have since died.

As the nation observes the 25th anniversary of September 11, Mychal’s Message hopes to commemorate their sacrifice not only by remembering what they did, but by continuing the spirit of service they demonstrated.

The location carries special significance. St. Francis of Assisi Church was the Franciscan home where Father Mychal Judge lived and served. Father Mychal, an FDNY chaplain, was killed while ministering to others at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and is remembered as the first officially recorded victim of the attacks.

For 25 years, the Blessed Bloomers project has collected and distributed something shelters and outreach organizations consistently need: new socks and underwear. These simple necessities offer warmth, comfort and dignity to people who too often go without them.

The project reflects the mission that inspired the founding of Mychal’s Message following Father Mychal’s death: to continue his compassion for people who are poor, homeless, hungry or forgotten.

This year, every pair of socks and every piece of new underwear distributed will carry a message beyond the gift itself—a message that 25 years later, we still remember. We remember Father Mychal. We remember those who ran toward danger when others were running away. We remember those who spent days and weeks searching, digging, serving and comforting at Ground Zero. We remember those who became sick because of their service and those who ultimately gave their lives because they answered the call to help. And in their honor, we will serve.

How to Help:

Mychal’s Message is currently accepting donations to purchase new socks and underwear for the September 6 distribution.

Tax-deductible donations may be made through the Mychal’s Message website (www.mychalsmessage.org) or mailed to:

Mychal’s Message
P.O. Box 6404
Lancaster, PA 17607

Through a simple gift of socks and underwear, Mychal’s Message hopes to offer dignity to someone in need while paying tribute to a generation of heroes whose courage and sacrifice must never be forgotten.

Twenty-five years later, we remember. Twenty-five years later, we serve.

What’s new with Mychal’s Message?

Thanks to your donations, we are still meeting the needs of the homeless and poor. Below is a list of items recently donated.

Q-tips 1 pack of 500*
Toothbrushes 468*
Wet wipes 450
Toothpaste 114*
Chapstick 108*
Body lotion 95*
Deodorant 80*
Hats 73
Soap/body wash 48
Shampoo/conditioner 43*
Body lotion 33
Soap/body wash 32*
Toothpaste 29
Deodorant 24
Toothbrushes 23
Shavers 22
Shaving cream 22
Blankets 18
Packages of wipes 17*
Chapstick 13
Gloves 12
Shampoo/conditioner 11
Women’s coats 8
Wet wipes 6*
Sanitizers 4
Mouthwash 2*
Floss 2*

*Items donated by students at St. Leo the Great School in Lancaster, PA

BLESSED BLOOMERS (2025):
Men’s Underwear 213 packs (each containing 2 underwear, 1 T-shirt, 2 pair socks, 2 candies and a prayer card)
(Totals: 426 underwear, 426 pair of socks, 213 T-shirts, 426 candies, 213 prayer cards)

WISH (2025):
25 meals (with all the fixings to prepare Christmas dinner including a turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, green beans, potatoes, onions, carrots, pie crusts, butter, pumpkin, and whip cream)
350 Christmas gifts (toys, clothing and shoes) for nearly 100 children.

THE CARLO EFFECT (a new project):
4 baby strollers

THE KENYA PROJECT:
School books and uniforms provided to children.

THE PHILIPPINES PROJECT:
Medicine, food, and clothing provided to families.

September 6, 2026 - this year’s Walk of Remembrance! Mark your calendars now!

Friends come from near and far to participate in the 911 Walk of Remembrance.
The 911 Walk Team is thankful for all who attend to Honor the Heroes.
NEXT WALK: September 6th, 2026
~~ WE WALK TOGETHER ~~
~~ WE WALK TO REMEMBER ~~

Tag your friends in the comments... Please share & repost these photos!
Spread the good word, be sure to like and share our page...
~ This photo from the 2016 Walk...
~ Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TimRyan9

Walk Contacts:
Facebook.com/TimRyan9
Facebook.com/John.Bates.12177

THANKS TO YOUR DONATIONS …

From Turkeys to Toys: Local Nonprofit Delivers Christmas to 20 Families—Just in Time

Lancaster, PA — December 20, 2025

Local nonprofit Mychal’s Message is once again turning generosity into action this Christmas through its 11th Annual WISH Distribution, bringing gifts and a full holiday meal to 20 local families with a combined 75 children on Saturday, December 20 at 10:00 a.m. at McCaskey High School.

Thanks to a generous donation from the real Santa, Mychal’s Message was able to purchase Christmas gifts for children identified through the Office for Displaced Families, formerly known as the Lancaster Homeless Student Project.

The WISH Project begins simply—with children’s wish lists. Mychal’s Message becomes the bridge, ensuring Santa’s gifts reach children who might otherwise wake up Christmas morning with nothing under the tree.

Among the most requested items this year were basketballs and footballs, Barbie dolls, Wicked crocs, nail care sets, and educational toys—all carefully selected, purchased, and wrapped to reflect the unique wishes of each child.

In addition to gifts, every family will receive ingredients to prepare a full Christmas dinner at home. When longtime meal partner Bob Evans closed this year, co-founders Sharon Hickey and her daughter, Kelly Ann Lynch, pivoted quickly.

Using a $40 Aldi holiday meal as a starting point, volunteers assembled dinners that include:

• 20 turkeys

• 200 pounds of potatoes

• 100 pounds of carrots

• Ingredients for stuffing, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pies, butter and dinner rolls

But even that plan hit a last-minute snag. The turkeys scheduled for pickup on December 19—just one day before distribution—were sold out.

Once again, the community answered the call. One couple donated three frozen turkeys, another woman donated three more, several donors contributed funds, and additional turkeys arrived just in time on Friday afternoon—ensuring every family would have a centerpiece for their Christmas table.

All gifts were lovingly wrapped by One Voice Youth Ministry, while St. Leo the Great Church contributed 20 grocery gift cards through its Giving Tree program. Each family will also receive a red envelope containing a grocery gift card to help meet additional holiday needs.

Founded in 2001, Mychal’s Message is powered by a small but devoted group of volunteers committed to serving the homeless and poor with compassion, creativity, and collaboration.

“This will be a beautiful Christmas,” organizers say—one built on generosity, perseverance, and neighbors showing up for neighbors.

It is bitter cold in the northeast. Please, if you are reading this, say a prayer for our homeless brothers and sisters who are sleeping outside tonight.

This real man says, "We're just like everybody else. We just had a streak of bad luck.”

These are the people on whose behalf we accept donations. Take a minute and watch this.

Tenfold reopens overnight winter shelter in converted Lancaster parking garage Tenfold is opening its overnight shelter in Lancaster on Dec. 1, offering 40 beds and warm beverages to support those experiencing homelessness during the winter months.

THANK YOU to One Voice Youth Ministry for wrapping the gifts for this year’s 20 Wish Families. Gifts will be distributed on December 20 along with all the ingredients to prepare a Christmas dinner for each family.

Sharon Hickey of Mychal’s Message organized this year’s Wish lists and purchased every gift, thanks to your donations.

THANKS TO YOUR DONATIONS, we are currently shopping from the Christmas wish lists of children in 20 families who have been identified by the Lancaster Office for Displaced Families, formerly the Homeless Student Project. These gifts will all be wrapped on Black Friday by One Voice Youth Ministry and will be distributed to the families, along with all the makings for a Christmas dinner, on December 20.