The Kosciusko Peace Council peace vigil that was slated for tonight has been postponed due to illnesses.

Organizer Marena Atkins says the flu has forced many of those who were to take part with prayers and song to back out of the event for the time being.

When the vigil is rescheduled, Atkins said it will include the sharing of readings and song, as well as personal testimonies from real people affected by poverty or violence. The KPC will also collect nonperishables for a local food pantry and coats for local people in need.

Atkins will hold a meeting of the KCP at Courthouse Coffee after the vigil to discuss the future of the group and additional events. There is already a sign up available for a Valentine’s Day Love Brigade, which Atkins described will be, “A troop that takes to the street in fun costume to proclaim a message of love and peace.

The Kosciusko Peace Council is a grassroots community based effort to improve Kosciusko County as a whole.

Atkins said, “We are working toward a goal of reaching out to those in need without any categories other than simply ‘community’ … We have so many churches and church-sponsored programs around here, but we have no unity. It’s my goal to bring all of Kosciusko together to unite against the problems that plague our community – poverty, violence, meth, domestic and child abuse, etc.”

“All in all, we decided that we can keep praying and actively campaigning for, and most importantly, creating peace, it doesn’t have to stop with the candlelight vigil,” she added.

There is a Facebook page for the KPC. Check the page often for new information or to contact Atkins.