In observance of the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, the Spokane County Victim/Witness Unit will hold a vigil on Sept. 24 in the County Commissioner’s Hearing Room on the Lower Level of the Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway Ave.
Since 1951, the Victim/Witness Unit has documented 682 murders, vehicular homicides, and unsolved violent crimes throughout Spokane County, according to a press release. While a few of these cases occurred in other areas, the victims’ families are located in the area.
To remember those who lost their lives to a violent crime, the Victim/Witness Unit will also be collecting shoes for a special memorial display. Each pair of shoes will represent a murder victim and, in a small way, you can “put yourself in their shoes” by honoring them, the press release read.
The unit is hoping to collect more than 500 pairs of shoes by Sept 23, from boots to booties, wing-tips to flip-flops. Shoes collected will be included in the murder victim memorial that will be located next to the Law Enforcement Memorial on the County Courthouse campus Sept. 25. Volunteers of America will pick them up and deliver them to various shelters and charities.
Shoes can be donated to:
- Spok. County Prosecutor’s Office – Public Safety Building, 1100 W. Mallon Ave.
- Lutheran Community Services – 210 W. Sprague Avenue
- YWCA – 930 N. Monroe Street
- Greater Spok. Substance Abuse Council – 8104 E. Sprague Ave. (Spokane Valley)
- Sheriff’s Crime Prevention Office – 14700 E. Indiana Ave. (Spokane Valley Mall)
At 5 p.m. and there will be a meet/greet for family and friends to connect with each other, and the vigil will start at 6 p.m.
