By Mike Hazlip—
A small group of people gathered at Adalbertos Mexican restaurant on Greenback Lane Tuesday night for a short walk to commemorate Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.
Alfred Sanchez, an area advocate for homeless individuals, organized the event to raise awareness for members of the community living on the streets of Citrus Heights — in conjunction with a national observance on Dec. 21 to remember homeless individuals who have died or been killed.
Temperatures hovered in the low 40s with light rain as Sanchez waited in the covered patio area of the restaurant with home made signs. A group of about five people joined him for the walk to Sacramento Metro Fire District Station 23, a distance of about a quarter mile from Adalbertos.
One of those waiting was Living Word Christian Fellowship Pastor Warren Starks. Starks told The Sentinel he is seeking to become more involved with reaching out to members of the community who are homeless.
“This would be a great place for us to get our feet wet, learn about the issue and see how we can get involved in a way that can actually impact and make a change,” Starks said. “Here we are, what can we do.”
Related: Meet the Citrus Heights ‘Snack Man’ who’s doing his part to help homeless
As the small group of people waited for any late-comers to arrive, two children came to donate coats. Karina Herrera, the mother of one of the girls, said she was with DoorDash and had come to Adalbertos to pick up a meal when she saw the group.
“We just went through clothes today,” Herrera said. “I figure there’s all these coats, I don’t want to throw them in the donation bin because I don’t know where they go, really. We see people that need them out here: it’s raining and it’s cold.”
Herrera said she tries to teach her daughter and niece to help others.
“She’s always done that. I’ve always taught her to do that, give back to people. When you have it, you give because we’ve all been at some point when we needed the help,” she said.
Sanchez led the small group down the sidewalk on the north side of Greenback Lane until they reached the fire station, then back to Adalbertos. People waved signs and a few vehicles honked in support.
“We only walked a couple blocks,” Sanchez said after returning to the restaurant. “Just imagine being out here all night, even in a sleeping bag, even with a tent, it is brutal. That’s why we do this, to remember that, how brutal it is.”
Living on the streets: Stories of Citrus Heights homeless
National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day began in the 1980s when advocates in Atlanta held an annual December march to remember those who died or were killed while living on the streets, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The memorial takes place on the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice.
The National Coalition for the Homeless encourages communities to commemorate the day by holding vigils, marches, and special religious services. Last year, the City of Citrus Heights formally declared Dec. 21 as National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, urging citizens to “support all local efforts to eliminate homelessness in our community.”
Related: Citrus Heights officially recognizes Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day
