Exeter, NH (January 29, 2007)—On Wednesday, January 31, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., the 18th Annual Homeless Vigil will take place at the Town Hall on Front Street in Exeter. The vigil is a community wide effort to raise awareness about homelessness in the Seacoast Area, and is sponsored by Phillips Exeter Academy’s Exeter Social Service Organization (ESSO) in cooperation with the Exeter Area High School Key Club, the Cooperative Middle School Builder’s Club, New Outlook Teen Center and local churches. The public is invited to participate.

Vigil participants will process with lit candles from the New Outlook Teen Center located at 120 Front Street, to the Phillips Exeter Academy Building on Front Street, and on to the Town Hall on the corner of Main and Front Streets. Along the approximate half-mile route, students from the Cooperative Middle School, the Exeter Area High School, members of area churches, the New Outlook Teen Center, and Phillips Exeter Academy will join the procession. 
 
The Reverend Robert Thompson, School Minister at the Academy, will greet participants at the steps of the Town Hall, and lead them in song before they enter the Town Hall. There, a brief program will include stories about the challenges of homelessness and music from various student groups and musicians.

Speakers will include Pati Frew-Waters, Director of Seacoast Interfaith Hospitality Network; Chris Sterndale, Director of CrossRoads House; Justine Shea, Homeless Outreach for Rockingham Community Action; Maggie Hassan, District 23 Senator; Eileen Flockhart, State Representative; as well as students and musicians.

Candles for the vigil can be reserved prior to the event by obtaining a voucher through participating organizations for a suggested donation of $2 to $5. Vouchers can be redeemed for candles on the night of the vigil at 6:30 p.m. at the New Outlook Teen Center, at the Phillips Exeter Academy Building steps, or at the Exeter Town Hall steps. Donations are welcome the evening of the event and candles will be available. Proceeds from the vigil will go directly to CrossRoads House, Rockingham Community Action and Seacoast Interfaith Hospitality Network.
 
For more information, contact Laurie Loosigian, Phillips Exeter Academy Community Service Coordinator at (603) 777-3584, or email lloosigian@exeter.edu.

Phillips Exeter Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory school that was founded in 1781 and originated the system of instruction known as Harkness teaching in 1931. In the spirit of its charter to foster both goodness and knowledge, students come from a wide variety of geographic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds. The diverse student body comes from approximately 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands and 26 foreign countries.