National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, Tuesday December 21

From the Community Health Center

WHAT:           In recognition of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on December 21, Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless—a program of Community Health Center, Inc.—will host memorial services and candlelight vigils in memory of the areas’ homeless residents who died in 2010. National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is co-sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless, National Health Care for the Homeless Council and National Consumer Advisory Board.

WHO:              New  Britain: State Sen. Donald DeFronzo; New Britain Mayor Timothy Stewart; South Church Pastor George Harris; Carol Walter of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness; Danna Bergin of the Friendship Center; and Barbara Damon of the Prudence Crandall Center.

Middletown: State Sen. Paul Doyle; Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano; Church of the Holy Trinity Pastor Maggie Minnick; Lydia Brewster and Carol Walters of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness; Ron Krom of Saint Vincent DePaul Place; Kevin Wilhelm of the Middlesex United Way; and two Wherever You Are clients.

Meriden: State Rep. Chris Donovan; Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde; Rev. James J. Olson of the Center Congregational Church; Carol Walter of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness; Amanda Swan, a CHC medical provider at Shelter Now; Kristen Granatek of the Women & Families Center; and Cheryl Badore of Master’s Manna.

WHEN/

WHERE:         New Britain – December 21 at 1 p.m.; South Church – Erwin Chapel, 90 Main St.

Middletown – December 21 at 4 p.m.; Church of the Holy Trinity, 381 Main St.
Meriden – December 22 at 1 p.m.; Center Congregational Church, 474 Broad St.

WHY:              Similar services are conducted in more than 150 communities across the country on the first day of winter—the longest night of the year—to recognize the need for political advocacy and efforts to end the preventable tragedy of homelessness.