If you think that walking outside of Ninos is heartbreaking, you should try walking inside. From floor to ceiling, the walls are covered with letters, drawings, photos and artwork sent in from people, mostly children, from all over the country. Even the place mats on the table were made by school children and have words and drawings of thanks, honor and patriotism on them. Ninos is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for relief workers from many agencies, such as the Red Cross, NYPD, FDNY, Salvation Army, and Sanitation Services, to come in and get out of the cold. To have a hot meal and some hot coffee. To have a laugh, a conversation, to take their minds off their jobs, if only for a few minutes. The mood was, surprisingly, very positive. It felt great to be interacting with the relief workers and other volunteers. It felt like I was doing a small part to help out, and really that we are all in this together, working towards a common goal. I met a lot of really kind and caring people in the volunteers and many brave, courageous souls in the relief workers. The experience was exhausting, but very fulfilling. Something that I’d like to do again. Sadly, faced with tremendous political pressure for taking business from lower Manhattan, Ninos will be closing its doors next Tuesday.