Gun Violence Awareness Month Community Cookout & Candlelight Vigil

Remember. Reflect. Unite. Take Action.

Date: Saturday, June 6th

1:00 - 4:00 PM
900 Dixie St, Lexington, NC | Open field directly across the street from Files Chapel Baptist Church

Vendor Registration deadline: May 31st

JLD Community Solutions invites the community to join us for our Gun Violence Awareness Month Community Cookout & Candlelight Vigil on Saturday, June 6.

This free community gathering is designed to bring neighbors, families, youth, community partners, vendors, and local leaders together for an afternoon of food, fellowship, remembrance, safety awareness, and hope.

Gun violence has impacted far too many families and communities. This event creates space to honor lives lost, support those affected, share helpful resources, and come together around the belief that healing, safety, and change are possible when community shows up together.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, June 6
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: 900 Dixie St, Lexington, NC 27292 (Open field across from Files Chapel Baptist Church)
Cost: Free and open to the community

What to Expect

Guests can expect a welcoming community cookout with:

Free hamburgers and hotdogs
We’ll be serving simple cookout favorites while supplies last.

Music and fellowship
Come connect with neighbors, families, and community members in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Games and family-friendly activities
We’ll have simple games and activities to help create a fun and engaging atmosphere for attendees of all ages.

Community resources
Resource tables will be available with information about JLD Community Solutions, local support opportunities, community programs, and helpful tools for families and youth.

Gun safety information and free gun locks
Gun locks will be available while supplies last, along with safety information to encourage responsible firearm storage and help reduce preventable harm.

Cooling towels
Because June temperatures can be hot, we’ll have cooling towels available while supplies last to help attendees stay comfortable.

Feedback board: “What Matters Most to You?”
Guests will have the opportunity to share what issues matter most to them, including youth opportunities, safer communities, mental health support, conflict resolution, family support, and community resources.

Candlelight vigil honoring lives lost
The event will include a meaningful vigil moment to honor and remember those whose lives have been taken or forever changed by gun violence.

Virtual Memory Wall

As part of Gun Violence Awareness Month, JLD Community Solutions is launching a Virtual Memory Wall to honor loved ones impacted by gun violence.

Community members are invited to submit a name, photo, and/or message in memory of someone they would like to honor. The Virtual Memory Wall will remain available beyond the event as an ongoing space of remembrance, reflection, and love.

Submit to the Virtual Memory Wall: https://form.jotform.com/JLD_support/vigil-honoree-submission-form

Special YouTube Conversation: Gun Safety

JLD Community Solutions will also premiere a special conversation featuring a local gun range professional discussing firearm safety, responsible storage, and practical ways families and communities can help prevent tragedy.

This conversation is part of our effort to provide meaningful education and awareness during Gun Violence Awareness Month.

Watch the premiere: Link coming soon!
Premiere Date/Time: Friday, June 5th @ 6:00 PM

Calling All Vendors & Community Organizations

We invite local vendors, nonprofits, churches, resource providers, and community organizations to be part of this meaningful gathering.

There is no vendor fee this year. Our goal is to bring the community together and create a day filled with connection, resources, remembrance, and hope.

Vendors and organizations are encouraged to share information, offer resources, sell products, provide giveaways, or simply be present with the community.

Vendor RSVP Deadline: May 31st
Vendor RSVP Form: https://form.jotform.com/JLD_support/gun-violence-awareness-month-commun

Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers to help make this event welcoming, organized, and meaningful.

Volunteer roles include:

☑️ Welcome/Check-in Crew
☑️ Grill Crew
☑️ Resource Table Support Crew
☑️ Setup and Breakdown Crew

Volunteer Signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B44ADA629A4FEC07-63899059-gunviolence

Why This Matters

JLD Community Solutions was created from a place of love, loss, and purpose. We know the pain of gun violence is not just a headline—it is personal, generational, and deeply felt by families and communities.

Through this gathering, we hope to create a space where people can remember, connect, receive helpful resources, and leave encouraged to take action in small but meaningful ways.

This event is not about politics. It is about people. It is about safety, healing, responsibility, remembrance, and community.

Join Us

Bring a friend. Come as you are. Be part of a community moment rooted in remembrance, connection, and change.

Saturday, June 6
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Location: 900 Dixie St, Lexington, NC (Open field across from Files Chapel Baptist Church)

For questions, vendor participation, volunteer opportunities, or media inquiries, please contact:

Dia Nyarko
Email: dianyarko@jldscholarshipfund.org