(By Joe Kirchmyer) A memorial service remembering Western New York’s homeless who have passed away during 2013 will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Lt. Colonel Matt Urban HOPE Center, 385 Paderewski Drive, Buffalo. Presented by the WNY Coalition for the Homeless, the event is purposefully scheduled on the first day of winter, the longest day of the year, to bring greater attention to the plight of the homeless.

The event, free and open to the public, will feature guest speakers, music by the Buffalo City Mission Choir and a candlelight vigil, followed by refreshments. Information about local resources for the homeless will also be available during the event.

This year, the Coalition is encouraging members of the community to join in honoring the lives of those who have passed on — sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers and friends — and calling for an end to homelessness in Buffalo. Homelessness is a community problem, so it is important that Western New Yorkers come together as a community to address it.

The WNY Coalition for the Homeless is an association of service providers and concerned individuals who have joined together to empower and advocate for people in need of safe, affordable, and permanent housing and related services. For more information on the WNY Coalition for the Homeless and its activities, please visit www.wnycfh.org. And for more information on the HOPE Center, please visit www.urbanctr.org.