
Coos County Locals Honor Homeless Persons’ Who Have Died and Those Still Struggling to Survive.
COOS BAY / NORTH BEND, OR – Over a hundred community members will unite for our 8th Annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial at the Coos History Museum on Thursday, December 21 at 5 pm. This event allows our community to show respect to our neighbors who are living unsheltered. An outdoor candlelight memorial will commemorate those homeless and formerly homeless in our community who have died in the past year. Inside, guests will dine with dignity as they enjoy home-made soup, bread, butter, cookies and warm drinks. Tammy Berg, T.H.E. House Executive Director, will prepare two soups with meat donated from McKay’s Market and fresh vegetable from community members. Speakers include Marcia Hart, Executive Director at United Way, as well as local spiritual leaders and formerly homeless persons in Coos County. Donated foods, used clothing & camping supplies and shower packs will be given to those in need. C.E.R.T will perform free blood pressure tests and Yellow Cab Taxi will give rides to those needing transportation to the event. FREE round-trip rides to the event from CCAT shelters & community spots: Davy Jones Locker; Coos County Annex; Walmart; Nancy Devereux Center; Coos Bay Visitor Center, South side; and the ARK at the Harding building. Departure times: 4:30-4:45 pm. Return rides begin at 7:15 pm from the museum. A free event for the public.
WHO: Homeless & formerly homeless persons, advocates, service providers, religious leaders, concerned citizens, city representatives… and you.
WHAT: Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, 2017 Memorial Event. Dine with dignity at a warm community meal, followed by a candlelight ceremony and speakers. Free transportation, camping and showering items and blood pressure tests will be available for attending neighbors in need.
WHERE: Coos History Museum, 1210 N. Front St. Coos Bay, OR 97420
WHEN: Thursday, December 21st, 5 to 7 p.m.
Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, is an annual event commemorated in over 150 cities and counties across the United States. Since 1990, the National Coalition for the homeless has sponsored National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on the longest night of the year to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless citizens who have paid the ultimate price for the failure of our nation to provide adequate resources and to fully address the safety and needs of people who are homeless.
Homeless Solutions Coos County and sponsors of this year’s event are calling attention to the fact that the programs we have in place are no longer enough, and as a city it is our duty to stand together to help those in our community who need us most.
Sponsored by: Coos History Museum, So It Goes Coffee House, Yellow Cab Taxi, Time Bomb, The Devereux Center, Farr’s True Value Hardware, McKay’s Market, T.H.E. House, Empire Bakery, Community Emergency Response Team, Sea Kitty Seafoods, CCAT and United Way of Southwestern Oregon.
For more information and background information on National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day are available at http://www.nhchc.org/memorialday.htm and www.projecthome.org
All events subject to change.