It seems, at times, impossible to believe that an entire year has passed. But here we are, 12 months later, steeped in both personal and communal reflections on the terrorist attacks and the aftermath.

It would probably be safe to say that no one who lived through the events of that day has remained untouched. 9/11 changed our landscape, changed our vocabulary, changed our vision of who we were and, for many of us, who we wanted to be.

Some changes were immediate. Many of us lost friends, family and loved ones, and all of us were moved by the tales of bravery and heroism that emerged from that day. Our sense of invulnerability was lost, but was replaced in part by a new sense of pride in ourselves, our community and country.

Some changes took a little longer for us to realize. We all continued to mourn the loss of life while struggling to come to terms with the physical devastation of Lower Manhattan. But it wasn't until after the initial shock of the attacks began to wear off that we comprehended the full impact, both emotionally and economically, on the life of our community.

We at the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service (BBCS) learned first-hand just how deeply the attacks effected our City. Over the past months, we have come to know personally many whose lives were turned upside down by the tragedy.

There was the married couple, self-reliant all of their lives, who after losing their jobs in the wake of 9/11, struggled to survive on their savings and ended up homeless and forced to sleep in a shelter, before seeking our help.

There was the airline worker, a single mother of two boys, whose job was eliminated following the post 9/11 slump in the tourist industry. She needed help translating her work experience into more marketable areas so she could continue to support herself and her children.

And there was the man who had come to this country from Ecuador. He lived with his uncle and worked alongside him at the World Trade Center to save enough money to go to college. On the morning of September 11th , he went to register for his first classes at college. His uncle went to work and never returned.

All of these people, and thousands like them, have turned to BBCS for solace, financial assistance, career guidance, counseling. And though not a "disaster relief" agency, we at the Brooklyn Bureau quickly realized that by focusing on what we had to offer - a highly experienced staff and a cadre of compassionate and dedicated volunteers - we could help these individuals to rebuild their lives.

The intensive relief efforts provided to thousands of individuals and their families by the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service over the last year would not have been possible without the generous support of so many individuals, foundations, corporations and organizations. We are grateful to The New York Times Company Foundation and its president, Jack Rosenthal, for their very immediate response in establishing The New York Times 9/11 Neediest Fund that over the past year has provided the Brooklyn Bureau with $5.5 million in support for its relief efforts.

Our other supporters cover a broad spectrum, from large organizations such as the McCormick Tribune Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund, the Robin Hood Relief Fund, Chances for Children, the International Paper Company Employee Relief Fund, J.P. Morgan Chase Manhattan Foundation, the Junior League Disaster Relief Fund, the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation and the Stroock Spirit of New York Fund to hundreds of individuals and groups such as the Advent Lutheran Church, the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue and the Pittsburgh Pirates Wives Charities. We deeply appreciate their steadfast commitment to assisting the victims of the September 11th disaster.

But, of course, the needs of those affected by the tragedy are ongoing. Tens of thousands of those who lost their jobs as a direct result of the attacks are still unemployed. Many of these people are looking to BBCS to provide them with assistance in developing the skills needed to find work, financial aid to see them through the critical months ahead and counseling to help them deal with the emotional after-effects of that awful day. Through our Community Response Center (CRC), we are able to offer clients instruction in a wide variety of areas, from computer and office skills training to English language classes. Our 9/11 relief efforts also include case management for those eligible for various government assistance programs, mental health counseling and direct financial assistance to prevent eviction, foreclosure or loss of utilities.

The number of calls coming into the CRC shows no sign of letting up. And resources permitting, the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service will continue to help those needing post-disaster aid, regardless of geographical boundaries.

The world has changed greatly this past year, and we at the Brooklyn Bureau have changed with it. We are more grateful for what we have, even as we continue to mourn for all that's been lost. The events of last September 11th have tested all of us, as individuals, as an agency, as a city, as a nation. It has been a challenge we hope and pray never again to encounter, but one that we can be proud to have met.