December 21 is the longest night of the year, the first night of winter. On this day, in New Hampshire and throughout the country, we honor those whose lives were lost to homelessness in our communities. You can read the 60 New Hampshire names here. All are welcome to join one or more of the nine NH vigils that have been organized this year, on December 21 and 22. Many of this year's vigils are online:
Homeless Persons Memorial Day 2020
New Hampshire Vigils
Concord: Monday, December 21 at 4 pm (in-person and virtual)
Candlelight Vigil at the NH Statehouse. You are welcome to join us in person or virtually. If you choose to come in person, please know that we will have social distancing, mask wearing and no singing this year, to protect the health of all. Please consider joining us to pay respect to those valuable lives that we have lost in 2020.
We would appreciate it if you would register for the event, whether you will be attending in person or virtually, by clicking REGISTER HERE. By registering for this event, you will receive the digital program and information about the live-stream, available on the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness's Facebook Page on the night of the event.
You may also choose simply to livestream the event without registration by clicking HERE at 4pm on December 21st, and can obtain a program for the event HERE.
There is no fee for any type of participation.
Dover: Tuesday, December 22 at 6:30 PM (in-person)
Houseless Memorial Vigil in Henry Law Park, hosted by NH Mutual Aid Relief Fund. Facebook event Please bring donations for NH Mutual Aid and Relief Fund (NH MARF) as you are able. Accepted items include camping supplies, winter items, hygiene care, and snacks. Financial contribution to NHMARF that go directly to the purchase of needed survival items for houseless communities can be made here: http://donorbox.org/nhmarf
Keene: Monday, December 21 at 9:30 AM to 10 AM (on the radio)
The Hundred Nights Shelter and the Greater Keene Homeless Coalition will host this year’s vigil on the radio. Broadcast will be on both WKBK. 94.1 FM and 1290 AM at 9:30 AM on December 21st.
Manchester: Monday, December 21 at 12 noon (in-person)
Homeless Memorial Day vigil at 1269 Café, 456 Union Street, Manchester.
Manchester: Monday, December 21 (virtual)
Catholic Medical Center will record a vigil and share it on their website and social media on December 21. Links for viewing the vigil which will go ‘live’ at 6 pm on Monday:
CMC Newsroom - www.catholicmedicalcenter.org/about-cmc/newsroom/news
CMC Facebook page - www.facebook.com/CatholicMedicalCenter
CMC Youtube page - www.youtube.com/CMChealthsystem
Newport: Monday, December 21 at 5 PM (in-person)
Homeless Memorial Day vigil on Newport Town Common. Participants must wear masks and maintain physical distance. Candle lanterns will be provided.
Peterborough: December 21 at 5 pm (virtual)
Homeless Memorial Day Vigil hosted by Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter (MATS). The community is invited to join the MATS board on Zoom at 5 pm on December 21 as we carry on this meaningful tradition. Visit the MATS website (matsnh.org) or Facebook page to find the link to the Zoom meeting.
Portsmouth: Monday, December 21 at 5:30 PM (virtual)
On Monday, December 21st, at 5:30 p.m., Cross Roads House will be hosting our annual Homeless Memorial Candlelight Vigil via Facebook Live. As in years past, we will be reading a proclamation from the Governor, lighting candles, and reading the names of individuals who we served who passed away in 2020. If you would like to join us online, here is a link to the event: https://fb.me/e/g7figSifG
Upper Valley: Monday, December 21 at 5:30 PM (virtual)
Upper Valley Memorial Candlelight Vigil for People Experiencing Homelessness
Join here: HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/UVHOMELESSVIGIL2020
The vigil will be recorded.