Homeless Memorial on Longest Night of Year

On the longest night of the year, those in the community who have died after having faced homelessness will be remembered at the Homeless Persons Memorial Day.

The service is organized by Friendship Service Center of New Britain and will be held at the South Congregational – First Baptist Church.

The South Church is located at 90 Main Street.

“Homeless persons are 3-4 times more likely to die than the general population,” say event organizers. “On average, people with housing in the U.S. can expect to live to age 78. Our long term homeless neighbors can expect to live to about the age of 50.”

The services will be held on Friday, December 20, 2019. The Memorial Service will be held at the Erwin Chapel at the South Church at 3:00pm.

Organizer say that, “The Memorial Service focuses attention to collectively recommit efforts to prevent unnecessary deaths among our homeless neighbors.”

The service is to be followed by a candlelight procession to Central Park.

“Our goal this year is to get more groups and businesses involved to light up the downtown New Britain area as well as our neighborhoods,” say event organizers.

Organizers are asking people at the event to donate to help people who have faced homelessness, saying, “The funds raised by this event all go to provide those staying in the shelter with the non-budgeted items e.g. bus tokens, camperships, under bed storage boxes, or any need identified by the staff.”

Donations are also being accepted at the Friendship Service Center at 85 Arch Street or by mail at P.O. Box 1896, New Britain, 06050-1896.

“Will you be ‘The Light,’ on the longest night?” event organizers ask.