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December is traditionally a time to remember loved ones and prominent personalities who have died during the year. The homeless, who often die alone and forgotten, should be afforded the dignity of having their lives acknowledged, say affiliates of Stamford agencies that serve them.
On Dec. 21, they will hold "Hope, Homes and Hearts," a service marking National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, from 6 to 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 1 Walton Place. Sponsors include the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, Optimus Health Care Inc., St. Luke's LifeWorks and Shelter for the Homeless Inc.
"Part of the importance is that the homeless can be so invisible," said the Rev. Kate Heichler, president of the interfaith council. The homeless are separated from family and "anything we consider normal," she said.
"In this environment, the diversity of those individuals who are homeless is growing," added Patricia Gallegos, site administrator for Optimus Health Care. "Federal, state and local funding have become stagnant, but the number of homeless keeps increasing."
Stamford's event will be part of a national remembrance of persons who died homeless in 2010. Nashville-based National Health Care for the Homeless Council, along with other organizations, spearheaded National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day about 25 years ago. The date of Dec. 21 was selected to coincide with the winter solstice the darkest day of the year.
The local event will feature a poetry reading, scriptures, singing and a reading of names, said Gallegos.
Heichler said she hopes area homeless persons will attend the service to experience the "warmth, warmness and acceptance" it will offer.
For others, "I hope people will realize there's not this big separation between 'us' and 'them,'" Heichler said. "It enriches the entire community when we care for our weakest."
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