Advocates for Minnesotans with disabilities and aging residents will rally at the Capitol Saturday to remind legislators that their needs should be protected during the budget cutting sessions.

Organizers hope to attract at least 5,000 people to the rally, which runs from noon to 1 p.m. At least four legislators, including House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, are scheduled to speak.

Those attending will bring decorated white towels to wave during the speeches. (They’re not throwing in the towel, or waving the white flag, but want to attract attention a la the Twins’ Homer Hankies.)

Advocates for the aging and disabled have been meeting in St. Paul the past two days to plot a strategy for coming years. This “Summit Conference: Creating a 21st Century Plan for Disability & Aging” is designed to get a multitude of groups from around the state on the same page while facing budget challenges and changing needs of vulnerable people.

The Saturday rally is a culmination of the conference.

The rally goal, says the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, is to show support for efforts “to maintain the current level of funding that supports critical programs used by people with disabilities and older Minnesotans.”

Past state budget cuts already have hurt many vulnerable people, and there is concern that the current financial crisis will be solved, in part, by taking money from services used by those who most need them, officials said.