Honoring Those We’ve Lost: A Memorial on the Longest Night
As the winter solstice marks the longest night of the year, it also serves as a poignant reminder of those who have died while experiencing homelessness. This day is recognized as National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.
In Winston-Salem, the community is gathering at Samaritan Ministries to honor these individuals with a Homeless Persons Memorial Service. The event will feature prayer and music as a way to celebrate the lives of those who often pass away unnoticed.
“So often, people who are experiencing homelessness are invisible to others,” said Jan Kelly, Executive Director of Samaritan Ministries. “And when they pass away, a lot of times there are not family members to remember them. There may not be a celebration of life, and we just want to take this time to honor their lives.”
Kelly emphasizes that this memorial is also a call to action for the community, urging continued efforts to ensure everyone has a place to call home. The service is scheduled for this Monday at 2 p.m. at Samaritan Ministries in Winston-Salem.
Samaritan Ministries operates year-round, providing a soup kitchen and a 70-bed shelter for males aged 18 and up, underscoring its commitment to those in need every day of the year.
