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Managing Editor CHICOPEE Elms College students conducted a candlelight vigil on Wednesday to note the problem of homeless young people and to support an international effort to help them, Covenant House. Gathering in a circle, the approximately 50 students listened to accounts written by four people who had been rescued from the streets by the organization and then lit candles to honor them. Student Julie Wickham led the event and said, "It's is unacceptable that homeless young people are living and dieing on the streets today." Fellow student Veronica Colon shared some sobering statistics: 3.5 million young people will experience homelessness and of those 40 percent will be under the age of 18. Fifty percent of the homeless youth will have come from either foster care or the juvenile justice system and 5,000 of them will die from either assault or suicide. The letters read at the event spoke of suffering and abuse, but each ended with hope, a hope that was inspired by the charity. "I learned it's never too late for everything to change," one person wrote. Covenant House is an international Catholic charity that is now in 21 cities worldwide providing care for homeless youth. The candlelight vigil at the Elms was one of many conducted by supporters to call attention to the plight of homeless youth. The nearest facility is in New York City, NY. In 2006, Covenant House supplied services to 61,000 youth. The agency maintains a national toll-free telephone line for homeless people seeking help at 1-800-999-9999. For more information on Covenant House, go to its Web site, www.covenanthouse.org. | ||||||
