A balloon release will be held for two missing Evansdale girls tonight in Deerwood Park, according to a public event on Facebook.

"Message in the Sky — A Balloon Release for Elizabeth and Lyric," is a way for the children of the community to express their love and concern for Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, who vanished while riding their bikes in Evansdale last week. The balloons will be released at 7:30 p.m.

Sara Kipp, one of the volunteers who helped coordinate the event, said they would have around 30 volunteers help inflate 400-500 balloons. A pastor will also be speaking at the event.

"I have a kid, and when I was a kid, that's what we would do, we would run Evansdale," Kipp said. "Nothing like this ever happened to us, but it could have. If it had, I like to think the community would have supported us."

Lynn Bender, who created the event on Facebook, said the balloon release was dreamed up and implemented in a 24-hour period.

"I think it symbolizes hope," Bender said. "Usually balloons are a sign of celebration. We're hoping maybe they'll see them."

Those who would like to attach a note to their balloon, or write on the outside of their balloon, are welcome to do so.

The event also encourages people outside of Evansdale to participate.

"Nationwide - please join us, just because you can't be with us in person does not mean you can't release a balloon, blow some bubbles, or just say a prayer from your location at 7:30 p.m.," reads the event description.

More than 450 had registered for the event, and an additional 5,000 had not yet responded.