Memorial service for the homeless in Springfield

Posted on December 20, 2019
The candlelight service outside the city’s Helping Hands shelter recognized the thirteen homeless people who died in Springfield over the past year (PHOTO: Dave Dahl)

 

By Dave Dahl

Springfield Thursday night joined the cities commemorating Homeless Persons Memorial Day, held on or about the first day of winter.

The candlelight service outside the city’s Helping Hands shelter recognized the thirteen homeless people who died in Springfield over the past year. If you think that number sounds high, shelter director Erica Smith says, “For us who work with people who are homeless, it is not a surprise, and this fuels our sense of urgency. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this is a public health crisis and requires intelligent, compassionate, immediate attention.”

Bishop Jonathan Franklin, of Mount Zion Apostolic Church in Springfield, said, “I would like to add another name to that list; one who was homeless and died in that condition. His name was Jesus.

“He was born homeless.”

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…