BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A grieving mom hopes others will join her in lighting candles in a Byron Center park Saturday to support West Michigan's fight against addiction and the stigma surrounding it.
“This is the first time this has ever been in Grand Rapids,” said organizer Theresa Adkison of the Lights of Hope event.
She and five other West Michigan moms are organizing the vigil.
“I want there to be so many people there, and I want there to be so much candlelight that it just lights up the park.”
A national organization called The Addict’s Mom, or TAM, started the candle lighting vigil several years ago. Moms now stage them in cities across the country every September, which is National Recovery Month.
In West Michigan, Lights of Hope will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Douglas Walker Park, located 1195 84th Street SW in Byron Center. The event will feature several speakers, as well as resources like agencies that help people on their recovery journeys.
The candle lighting portion will begin around 7:30 p.m.