On the eve of winter, 40 people gathered together to shed light on the community's unsheltered.

Representatives from Family Promise, Peaceful Knights, Carbon County Action Committee for Human Services and CareerLink lit candles at 6 p.m. Monday on the Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge, in tandem with Lehigh Valley shelter organizations for Helping Other People Everyday."HOPE Across Bridges signifies unity and collaboration among the many social service providers, caregivers, families, friends, individuals, institutions, organizations, shelters, churches, hospitals, schools, communities, and many others who provide HOPE each and every day to those who are currently, or previously homeless," according to Shannon Eidem, CareerLink veteran employment representative."I spoke to Kevin Cope of the Lehigh Valley Business Group about HOPE Across Bridges in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. We wanted to be a part of it. All these wonderful people jumped on the bandwagon," she said of the area shelters.Flames were shared between bundled-up participants in memorial for those who never found homes."Last year we had a homeless man die under the bridge. He froze to death in January. There's no reason for something like that. People have value, we need to remember that," said Family Promise Executive Director Natalie Bojko.Family Promise works to house up to four families at once. "We have three families right now but 13 on the waiting list. We always give Carbon County first preferences," Bojko said.According to Peaceful Knights Director Robert Fatzinger, in 2014 the homeless count in the U.S. was at 578,424. "Some say there are only 50,000, but that's wrong. It's more like 500,000."Peaceful Knights is a Christian based 90-day shelter program on First Street in Lehighton."We can house 10 men at a time. We are hoping to open an emergency shelter in 2016," he said.The Action Committee runs several area programs, including assisting financially burdened families on the verge of eviction."We have 50 families annually," Kimberly Miller said. "Funding is an issue.""Look at the budget. $10 million is being spent on the fire center. But there isn't even an emergency shelter in our area," Fatzinger said."They are spending over $500,000 to widen the road to get into the building, it's outrageous. The commissioners are spending money on animal shelters, what about human shelters? We have to send our people down to Allentown," said John Drury of Family Promise.In order to gain a realistic look at homelessness in the county a "point in time count" will take place during January."This is a huge movement to gain awareness about homelessness," Bojko said. "We are looking to count people who are homeless in our county. Homelessness can also be someone who sleeps in their car or stays with friends on couches. They need assistance as well."A team of volunteers will be organized to find the most accurate count in Carbon County. Peaceful Knights will host a breakfast the morning of the count. "We will be going out and checking cars and under bridges. Last year only 909 people were found in the Lehigh Valley during the count," Fatzinger said."I think it's a good cause. People should be made aware of it. Hopefully, we can help out with the point in time count," said Phil Scheirer of Lehighton.Anyone wishing to volunteer for the count on Jan. 28 or for more information on how to become involved can call the action committee at 610-377-3445 or visit the office at 267 S. Second St. in Lehighton.