Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week, schools, communities and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness. The Fall River Homeless Service Providers held their 4^th Annual Candlelight vigil in recognition of National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week on Sunday, November 13^th at 6:00 p.m. at Gromada Plaza, across from the Fall River Government Center. The Coalition also requested donations of new winter wear, such as hats, gloves, scarves, mittens and socks, and new toiletries, like razors, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, that local providers will distribute to the needy. Click here to read the Herald News article about the event.
 

(Top row) Coalition Chairperson Susan Jenkinson, Director of the Residential Care Consortium, began the event with a scripture reading and a folk song. Participants were then asked to light their candles, passing their light from one to another. Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. talked about the problem of homelessness in Fall River and efforts to create a plan to end homelessness in the City in ten years. (Middle row) Christine Carpenter, Director of the Fall River Family Resource Center and the LOFT program, addressed the crowd and introduced Pam and her daughter who described their own experiences with homelessness. (Bottom row) As the ceremony ended, participants were invited to sing Amazing Grace and were offered coffee and donuts provided by Dunkin Donuts.