Community members shocked by last week’s grisly discovery of a decomposing infant in a North Long Beach alley will come together for a candlelight vigil Wednesday night.
The vigil was created by Hamilton Neighborhood Association Interim President Hilda Gaytan who noticed a growing number of residents who wanted to come together to pray for the child.
“I noticed there was a lot of pain among the residents,” Gaytan said. “We were so sad; we just wanted to pray together.”
The event will include a short program led by Councilmember Rex Richardson’s office in support of the county’s Safe Surrender program, which allows mothers to surrender their infants no more than three days old at any fire or police station, or hospital, as long as there are no signs of abuse.
Speakers include Richardson, Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) Chief Mike Duree, representatives from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) and County Supervisor Don Knabe’s office, The ROCK Christian Fellowship Senior Pastor Gregory Sanders and Gaytan.
The public will have access to trauma services and information on the Safe Surrender program.
The program and remarks will take place at 6:00PM, the vigil will begin at 6:30PM. The event will be held at the corner of 67th Street and Gardenia Avenue, where the infant was found.
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