Continued healing, positive action
A Day of Remembrance is being planned on July 20, billed as a . "multifaceted day of meaningful remembrance, continued healing and positive community actions" in wake of last year's tragedy.
The day will begin with a community gathering and morning ceremony to honor and remember those whose lives were lost, survivors and their loved ones.
The ceremony will be followed by a variety of healing activities such as meditation and reflection, counseling, yoga and art and music activities.
Groups and individuals can pre-register for a number of community service projects that will take place around Aurora that day.
Project descriptions and registration information are available at www.AuroraGov.org/720Volunteer.
Schedule of events
To be held at Aurora Municipal Center (15151 E. Alameda Parkway)
7:30 a.m. - Community Gathering followed by an 8:30 a.m. Ceremony – (Municipal Center Lawn)
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Healing activities will include spiritual counseling, mental health counseling, art therapy projects, yoga, a nature walk and a poetry reading. Activities will also be scheduled at the Aurora Strong Resilience Center (1298 Peoria St.). The Aurora Strong Community Resilience Center will open to the public in mid-July, officially opening its doors to all Aurora residents who have been affected by trauma, or who simply want to learn resilience and coping skills to prepare themselves for unexpected trauma.
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Community Service Projects throughout Aurora, organized by non-profit organizations throughout Aurora, include Project C.U.R. E., Food Bank of the Rockies, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado, Aurora Mental Health Center, Boys and Girls Club, Aurora North Middle School, and others. Project descriptions and registration information are available at www.AuroraGov.org/720Volunteer.
The community may also make a blood donation as an act of remembrance. Bonfils Blood Center will conduct a blood drive at the Aurora Municipal Center on July 20 from 8 a.m. to noon. Register for a time slot by calling 303-363-2300.
Residents are also invited to drop off donations at the Aurora Municipal Center for a variety of non-profit agencies beginning in early July. Items needed include:
Aurora Mental Health: new hygiene items, sunscreen, diapers, crayons, pencils, pens, paper, notebooks.
Arapahoe House: household items, new and gently used clothing, hygiene items, craft making items.
Comitis Crisis Center: new socks and underwear for all ages and sizes.
Sungate Kids: new teddy bears, crayons, coloring books, markers
Gateway Battered Women’s Services: toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, canned fruit.
Metro Community Provider Network: diapers, small spiral notebooks, hygiene items, new clothes for children sizes 12 months to 2 years, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, baseball caps, band aids & antiseptic cleaner, pill box organizers, backpacks, luggage, satchels, reading glasses, bottled water, protein bars & healthy snacks.
Aurora Warms the Night: hats, globes, pull open cans of soup.
ARC of Aurora: non-perishable food items, hygiene items, paper products.
Boys and Girls Club: gently used sports and recreation/sports equipment, school supplies.
Information regarding the Day of Remembrance is available on the city of Aurora website, www.auroragov.org.
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