From the United Way of Allen County:

The Fort Wayne Area Planning Council on Homelessness will hold a candlelight memorial walk on the longest night of the year, December 21, 2011 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Rescue Mission, 301 W. Superior St. The group will walk to the Headwaters Park West Pavilion for a short memorial service and will then walk back to the Rescue Mission for
refreshments. Members of the public are invited to join the walk.

Each year since 1990, on or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, the National Coalition for the Homeless has sponsored National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness. Hundreds of communities across the nation recognize the event each year.

In Allen County, the Memorial Walk will pay tribute to the lives of the homeless who died in the community in the last year. In many cases, this service will be the only commemoration of the life and passing of these persons. The recently formed Fort Wayne Area Planning Council on Homelessness works to find innovative ways to address the issue of  homelessness so local individuals can find permanent shelter and work to become self-sufficient. The Planning Council is comprised of dozens of agencies, as well as local government, and is working toward three main goals: reducing the
number of homeless persons, shortening the time that people are homeless and making sure enough resources exist to prevent these people from becoming homeless again.

For more information contact: Mary Tyndall, United Way, 260.422.4776 or 260.341.7427 (cell) or Marcy Yoder, Chair of the Fort Wayne Area Planning Council on Homelessness and United Way Director of Basic Needs 260.422.4776