Begin by going to any organizations that you are familiar with in your area and try to get them interested in the vigil. Your parish priests, school principals, senior citizen organizations, any support groups you belong to, etc. You might also write letters to Washington, (1st lady, congressmen, your state reps). I have begun sending e-mail to government officials, the more they get, the more seriously they'll take it.
Once you know you have support behind you, get a committee together to make the crosses, give out flyers, etc. We used small tapers with, I swear, medium sized, wax coated dixie cups! They kept the candles lit and were cheap (dollar store!). We cut an X in the bottom of each and fit the top of the taper through the x.
You'll also need people to solicit donations from local businesses. (We had a good start with donations in Karen's name to our church to start our awareness group.) A lumber yard in our neighborhood donated the wood for the crosses (make them simple, we drove ourselves crazy to make them special and no-one wanted to leave them in the park for fear of vandals). We gave people the option of leaving them or taking them home and everyone took them home, which was fine with us rather than have them desecrated later. It depends on your neighborhood. We stenciled the names onto the crosses and went over the letters with wood burners, looks great but took a while, so however you choose to do it make sure you have plenty of time and help. Have the people come early to pick up the crosses. I was still giving them out as the procession was starting and gave some out to strangers to carry. I was surprised that no one turned me down and carried them as though they were family.
You need to choose a route for the walk. Ours was very peaceful, we didn't want to confront the dealers or users. Just raise awareness of the problem. So we chose the most direct path from Nativity church park to the M.D.G. church for an interfaith prayer service (our Catholic priests thought at an interfaith service people would be more apt to enter the church who were not catholic), then one block to the next park to read the names and place the crosses in the center. We used a portable mike to announce the name and age on each cross, one family member placed the cross.
We were led by a police car flashing its' lights (our local police were more than happy to provide the escort), a bag-piper playing Amazing Grace, followed by a member of our drug awareness group carrying a cross, then 4 priests from our parishes and the local high schools, then the procession. Your committee can decide who lead your walk.
Make flyers announcing the vigil and distribute them to EVERY newspaper and t.v. station in your area and ask them to promote the event as much as possible. Also send them to the principals and P.T.A. leaders of the local schools, and any drug rehabs in your area.
As soon as we have a confirmed date I will let everyone know so we can co-ordinate the date. I will also post it on this page. I know it will be the first week of November. Father Citino has to check the church & school calendars for an open night.
I hope this can get you started in your area. Let me know if I can help in any way. And pass info to everyone you know to generate support across the country.
Thank you and PLEASE keep me posted about your progress.
Peace and comfort,
Kathy Berry
Several people have expressed a sincere interest in developing "Lights in the Darkness - Drug Awarness Vigil" as a nationwide event. If you are interested in promoting this much-needed event, please e-mail me or Sue! We are really excited about this, and wish to hear from anyone who will help promote this in their city.
On November 4, 1998, our support group for the families and friends of drug and alcohol abusers held our first annual candlelight march to raise awareness of the high price of drug use. This march through our neighborhood was dedicated to the many lives lost to this plague.
The official numbers were awesome. 400 people marched with us. 50 crosses bearing the names of victims. So many people requested crosses that we simply couldn't make them all in time. Due to the overwhelming response, our parish priests decided to make the "Lights in the Darkness - Drug Awareness Vigil" a yearly event.