On Dec. 2 Abode Services joined co-hosts St. James’ Episcopal Church and Tri-City Interfaith Council for their 11th annual Candlelight Vigil, which was held at the church. More than 60 people attended the interfaith ceremony that memorialized individuals who have passed away this year while experiencing homelessness.
Reverend Lori Walton, Rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church, served as emcee. Other speakers representing various religious faiths included Reshma Inamdar, president of Tri-City Interfaith Council and board member of Abode Services and Abode Property Management; as well as leaders representing the Sikh, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist faiths.
“Far too many of our neighbors suffer on our streets because they lack the most basic [necessities],” Walton said. “This vigil is about raising awareness about our responsibility, individually and civically, to care for and recognize the humanity of all our neighbors. This is just one small step towards creating the type of compassionate, supportive society in which we all deserve to live.”
The names of people who passed away while experiencing homelessness last year in Alameda and Santa Clara counties were read by Darrian White, chair of Abode Services Board of Directors, and Katie Fantin, Abode Services’ vice president of programs in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.
The candlelight vigil ended with a call to action from Vivian Wan, Abode Services’ chief executive officer. “In times like these, when there are rough waters ahead, I call upon our leaders to remind us that we must sustain hope and use our circle of influence to encourage dignity and forge solutions that really end homelessness, not just empty actions that shuffle our fellow humans around,” Wan said. “Let’s all imagine a world where everyone can find safe and affordable housing in their community, realizing that we all are better off when we do so.”
For more information, visit abode.org.
