Candlelight Vigils
Planning a candlelight vigil is an easy way to commemorate Homeless Awareness Week. It is easy to plan, easy to promote, and gets the message of Bringing Michigan Home out to many people in a short amount of time.
To plan a vigil:
- Choose a location. Pick a location that is public and receives a lot of traffic. The lawn of Town Hall or a well-traveled park would be good. Consider parking, as well as choosing a space that would be large enough for everyone to attend.
- Pick a date and a time. The time should be around dusk, so that people can see the crowd to meet up, and that it will be dark just as candles are lit.
- Gather Supplies. Bring candles and wax guards (paper cups) for the guests you are expecting. Don’t forget to bring something to light the candles with! It would also be good to bring information about homelessness in the community and across the state. You can create attractive flyers at the Campaign to End Homelessness Website.
- Designate a speaker. Have someone prepared to say a few words — talk about the causes of homelessness, about the community’s ten year plan, about some of the people who need help.
- Invite the media, public officials, and the community. Invite public officials as far in advance as possible. Use community publications and social networking websites to invite the community. A few days before, write a press release. The day of, follow up to the press release.
- Turn interested persons into allies. Invite the media to your organization to learn more about it, and more about the issue of homelessness. Offer to keep in touch with public officials about how policies effect those who are homeless. Turn those in the community into volunteers.
