FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2008
MEDIA ALERT * MEDIA ALERT
The San Diego Rescue Mission Presents
7th Annual Interfaith Candlelight Vigil
Honoring 58 People Who Died Homeless in Our Community This Past Year
Saturday, November 1
4:15 - 6:00 pm
San Diego Community Concourse Civic Plaza
WHAT:
To honor the 58 men and women who died while homeless in San Diego the
past year, the San Diego Rescue Mission will be holding its 7th
Annual Interfaith Candlelight Vigil on Saturday, November 1.
A procession to the vigil will depart from the San Diego Rescue Mission
at 4:15 pm and walk five blocks to the Community Concourse. Each person
in the procession will carry a pair of shoes to represent one of the
deceased homeless men and women. The candlelight vigil at the Concourse,
beginning at 5:00 pm, will include a respectful reading of the names
of each of the 58 men and women who died while homeless in San Diego
in the past year. The event is designed to create awareness that there
are about 10,000 men, women and children living each day homeless in
San Diego.
WHO:
The San Diego Rescue Mission is one of the largest comprehensive
rehabilitation centers for the homeless in California. Focusing
on long-term treatment, the Rescue Mission houses hundreds of men, women,
and children and provides shelter, food, counseling, treatment, and
work therapy. The Rescue Mission serves over 3,000 individuals and prepares
over half a million meals annually. The San Diego Rescue Mission
is the only major homeless shelter in San Diego that does not receive
government funding for its long term rehabilitation programs, and is
nationally recognized for its successful programs. The San Diego
Rescue Mission is joined by many other social service advocacy groups
to honor the lives lost including First Presbyterian Church, Interfaith
Shelter Network, Homeless Outreach Task Force, Serial Inebriate Program,
Regional Taskforce on the Homeless, Presbyterian Urban Ministries, The
Rock Church Homeless Ministry, Downtown Partnership, Clean and Safe
Program, St. Vincent de Paul Village, First Lutheran TACO Program, and
the YWCA, among others.
WHEN: Saturday, November 1
4:15 pm - Procession begins at San Diego Rescue Mission
5:00 pm - Candlelight Vigil at Community Concourse
WHERE:
Procession: San Diego Rescue Mission: 120 Elm Street, San Diego, 92101
Vigil: San Diego Community Concourse Civic Plaza: 202 C Street, San
Diego, 92101
Live truck parking available. Please call Beth Binger at 619.987.6658.