Event for the homeless scheduled for Fri., Dec. 21
VANCOUVER – Friends of the Carpenter, Outsiders Inn and the Council for the Homeless will host a Memorial for the Homeless on Fri. Dec. 21, 5:45 to 7 p.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1309 Franklin St. At least 20 people with local connections who died while homeless this year will be remembered.
“An important step in addressing homelessness is to assert the fundamental dignity of all persons – single adults, families, and youth – who are in situations of homelessness and poverty, and to work tirelessly to protect their basic human and civil rights. A proper memorial truly nurtures a spirit of community and compassion for all individuals.,” said Tom Iberle, executive director. “We must continue to raise the consciousness of our community while inspiring action to end homelessness in our community through systemic change.”
The program will include representatives from the faith community and remarks from various individuals.
Call Friends of the Carpenter at (360) 750-4752 or email ren@outsidersinn.org before the memorial if special accommodations are needed.
Memorials for the homeless are held in cities throughout the country on Dec. 21, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. The collective goal is to commemorate the lives of the mothers or fathers, sons or daughters who died on the streets or in emergency shelters from illness or conditions directly related to their homelessness. In many cases, these services will be the only commemoration of their lives.
About Friends of the Carpenter
Friends of the Carpenter was incorporated in Vancouver in Oct. 1998 and began as a vision of a practical outreach of simple welcome and personal interaction between volunteers from the church and people living in poverty. Since the beginning, regular contact has been made with vulnerable members of our community through woodworking events scheduled around the area and which, today, are mostly held at FOC’s Friendship Center. The mission: Friends of the Carpenter is a non-profit, faith-based day facility that provides safety, structure and purpose for vulnerable members of our community. Learn more at friendsofthecarpenter.org.
About Outsiders Inn
OutsidersInn uses a multi-pronged approach to tackling the problem of homelessness, separation and discrimination through advocacy, awareness and support. Learn more at outsidersinn.org.
About Council for the Homeless
Council for the Homeless is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide community leadership, compelling advocacy, and practical solutions to prevent and end homelessness in Clark County. The Council collaborates with government partners, educators, business leaders, communities of faith, and community members to create an effective, efficient, and humane response to homelessness. Check out www.councilforthehomeless.org for more information.
