The 15th annual Luminaries & Love vigil — formerly the Gloucester Overdose Vigil — was well attended Monday along Stacy Boulevard. Over the years, the remembrance has become a deeply valued community ritual, a peaceful night to honor loved ones lost, stand with those grieving, and help reduce stigma around substance use. Since 2021, organizers have used canned goods instead of sand to weigh down the luminary bags, turning a practical need into a way to support The Open Door’s food pantry. Last year, the community donated 1,759 pounds of food.
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