New Beginnings, Lewiston/Auburn Alliance for Services to the Homeless, Trinity Jubilee Center, and the Pleasant St. Drop-in Center invite the community to join their annual candlelight vigil to remember people without stable homes during the holiday season.
The vigil is scheduled for 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, in downtown Lewiston. The vigil is part of a national movement of cities marking National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on or near the winter solstice, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, according to a news release from Nicole Pollock, development and marketing coordinator, New Beginnings.
Supporters are invited to meet at 4:30 p.m. below the HOPEFUL sign along Main Street, and are encouraged to add names, photos and candles to a temporary visual memorial to honor the unhoused who died in the past year. Each person should bring a flashlight or electric candle to hold, and a sign if they choose.
Vigil participants will then stand along both sides of Main Street with lights and signs to raise awareness about the crisis of homelessness to passersby during the Wednesday evening commute from 4:30 until 5:30 p.m., between Mill Street/the Hopeful sign and the Lincoln Street/veterans’ memorial.
Those who plan to attend are encouraged to dress warmly; the event will be held no matter the weather.
Names or photos for the event’s visual memorial can be emailed by Monday, Dec. 12, to nicole@newbeginmaine.org.
Parking is available in nearby municipal lots. Event details and a downloadable flyer are available at newbeginmaine.org.
Each year since 1990, the National Coalition for the Homeless has co-sponsored National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. In an effort to maximize the impact of the day, organizers have encouraged statewide and local groups to hold events of their own. New Beginnings and LAASH have held the L/A Vigil annually for more than 20 years.
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