It is painstaking work. In the midst of all that carnage is this old chapel of St. Paul's, where George Washington once worshipped. It is quieter than the street. It has only a few low lights, powered by generators, but the altar is ablaze with candles. There is another bank of candles alongside the altar rail.
People come, light a candle, and kneel down to pray a while.
And then they get their supplies, from batteries and flashlights, to snacks, to personal hygiene, to chocolate and candy. Outside on the porch the meals are served, but we encouraged folks to go back into the church to eat, where it is warmer, quieter, and more inviting. There were blankets on most pews, so some were sleeping, others were eating, some just sitting, and some praying. A group of us would huddle in one corner and talk about the shift. Most police and firemen were on fourteen hour shifts, such as 4 am to 6pm.