KALISPELL — The winter solstice is recognized across the nation as National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day to remember and honor lives lost due to homelessness.
The Flathead Warming Center in Kalispell held a candlelight vigil on Saturday night in honor of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.
“And on this 2024 National Homeless Memorial Day, we celebrate it on December 21 because it's winter solstice. We have it at this time because it's when the sun sets on the longest night of the year,” said Sean O’Neill with Collaborative Housing Solutions.
Community members, advocates and local leaders gathered to honor six lives lost in the Flathead Valley in 2024 due to homelessness at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday.
“So for that, we come together to remember all those that we lost this year,” said O’Neill.
The names of the six people lost this year were read to the group followed by a description of their lives and a moment of silence.
“These individuals were critical parts of other people's lives. They were very well loved,” said O’Neill.
The people who lost their lives were in different stages of homelessness. Some were living on the streets while others had finally got into a home but passed due to complications from homelessness.
All of the people remembered at the vigil were under the age of 60 and lost their lives far too soon.
“I want everybody to remember how young these people were far too young; they had much more life to live. And the loved ones they've left behind are the ones that suffer,” said O’Neill.
Flathead Warming Center representatives encouraged those gathered to help the homeless community in the coming year to reduce the number of lives lost by donating time and resources when possible.
“Remember that let's not forget this. Let's act so that we don’t have to keep coming back here with more names,” said O’Neill.
The people honored were a part of the community and loved by children, grandchildren, families and other members of the community.
The Flathead Warming Center honored:
- Jennifer “Jenny” Michelle Pervais, 36, born December 27, 1987, died January 9, 2024.
- Talis Sands-Doran, 59, born March 31, 1964, died January 29, 2024.
- Kimberly Danneen Hodges, 45, born September 27, 1978, died April 7, 2024.
- Kristina Lynne Penman, 51, born November 21, 1972, died April 17, 2024.
- Todd Allen Sampson, 55, born May 22, 1968, died May 17, 2024.
- Darin Wayne Harp, 52, born May 26, 1972, died October 3, 2024.
