SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. - In observance of the "National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims", the Spokane County Victim/Witness Unit held a vigil on Wednesday in the County Commissioner's Hearing Room.
As of 1951, the Victim/Witness Unit has documented 624 murders, vehicular homicides, manslaughters, and unsolved violent crimes from throughout Spokane County. While a few of these cases occurred in other areas, the victims' families are located here and all too often, they are still struggling to cope with the murder of a loved one.
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 Spokane County Victim/Witness Unit is hoping to collect at least pairs of shoes by Wednesday, September 19th. From boots to booties, wing-tips to flip-flops, every pair of shoes that they receive will be included in the murder victim memorial that will be located next to the Law Enforcement Memorial on the County Courthouse campus on Friday, September 21st. They only ask that the shoes be in good condition because the Volunteers of America will pick them up on Friday, September 21st and deliver them to various shelters and charities.
If you have a pair of shoes that you would like to donate, please bring them to the following locations (make sure they are tied together or put a rubber band around them):
- Spokane County Prosecutor's Office (lobby) – Public Safety Building, 1100 W. Mallon Avenue
- Lutheran Community Services – 210 W. Sprague Avenue
- YWCA – 930 N. Monroe Street