ROCKFORD People who are homeless are easily overlooked. On Monday night, however, the community paused to remember that the lives of the homeless are worth of remembrance.
Nearly 30 people gathered at Davis Park on Monday evening to remember 24 homeless people who died in 2020. The gathering was organized the Carpenter s Place, a faith-based organization that provides resources that help homeless men and women rebuild their lives.
The people remembered by Carpenter s Place likely would not have received any funeral or memorial service otherwise. For the Rev. Rebecca White Newgren, pastor of Rockford s SecondFirst Church, the service was as a reminder of the importance of all human life, regardless of a person s living circumstances.