The nights might be cold in the greater Kawarthas region, but the hearts sure are warm.
This Saturday (February 28), people in Lindsay, Peterborough, Cobourg, and Port Hope will be raising funds for vulnerable community members through the national “Coldest Night of the Year” fundraising walk. Teams and individuals will step out of the warm comfort of their homes for two-kilometre or five-kilometre walks to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness.
A charitable program of Kitchener-based charity Blue Sea Foundation, the Coldest Night of the Year has raised over $75 million in 190 communities across Canada since 2011, with net proceeds supporting charity partners dealing with homelessness and related issues.
“We’re all walking for the same purpose, but it’s to help our own local communities,” says Shantal Ingram, co-executive director of the United Way Haliburton Kawartha Lakes. “That was what drew us in — being part of the bigger group, but also knowing that we’re making an impact locally.”
The United Way Haliburton Kawartha Lakes will be hosting the annual walk in Lindsay for a third year, with the goal of raising $25,000. The family-friendly event will begin at Fleming College’s Frost Campus (200 Albert St. S.) with the two-kilometre route going to the United Way office and back, while the five-kilometre walk will follow a route through Lindsay.
“It’s been a really snowy, challenging winter, so I think it’s a great way for either team-building or to spend time with family and friends and get out and meet other people from the community, raise some money for a good cause, and support the people in the community that may have been struggling this winter being cold, without somewhere to live, or without enough food to eat,” says Ingram. “Raising funds for this event will help support initiatives in the community that address those situations.”
In Peterborough, Street Level Advocacy is hosting the initiative with the goal of raising $40,000. The walk will begin at the Bridge Youth Centre (256 Brock Street) and all funds raised will directly support street outreach with those experiencing homelessness and hunger.
In Cobourg, Hope and Light Urban Outreach is aiming to raise $30,000 through the walk that will begin at the Cobourg Memorial Temple (412 Victoria St.). Funds raised will support a food security program that provides over 200 healthy meals to vulnerable people weekly, in addition to other initiatives.
Next door in Port Hope, the Green Wood Coalition has set an ambitious goal to raise $60,000 with the walk beginning at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church (131 Walton St.). The street-level group uses a community model to support people living with poverty, mental illness, and substance dependency through arts, community meals, support groups, and other programming.
In each community, the walk begins at 5 p.m. with check-in at 4 p.m. There will be rest stops along the way and a light meal to follow.
Coldest Night of the Year provides the opportunity for businesses, organizations, and family or friend groups to join together to raise essential funds for the community. Over the years, United Way Haliburton Kawartha Lakes has seen groups get innovative, hosting their own fundraisers and events to funnel into Coldest Night of the Year.
“If you’re part of a service group, there might be other ones throughout the country that are raising funds so you can join and see who can raise the most,” Ingram says. “There are all these different aspects to make it fun while also supporting a really important cause.”
Participants can sign up as a solo walker, start a new team, or join an existing team — such as the United Way’s team, “UWHKL Giver’ to Shiver.” There is no fee to sign up.
“If you can’t come out and walk, you can donate directly to that team,” Ingram notes. “I know some people are doing some fundraising on their own but they’re not able to walk, so then they can drop their raised funds on the day of the event or donate online directly to the team.”
“It’s a great way for everyone to get involved,” says Ingram. “You don’t need to raise a lot of money, but if you do it as a group, then it all adds up together and you’re making a great contribution to your community.”
Not sure how to begin your fundraising efforts? Coldest Night of the Year is running the “get5” campaign, suggesting that just contacting five potential donors can go a long way.
“Think of five people you know and ask them for $20 or $25, and now you’ve already raised $125,” Ingram says. “You can ask your uncle that lives in Scotland if they want to donate because they can do that right through the website. They can find your name and donate to support you.”
Adults 18 and older who raise $150 or more and youth 17 and under who have raised $75 will both be presented with a commemorative toque for their efforts. Those who go above and beyond and raise $1,000 will be awarded a button to acknowledge their success.
Whether you’ve raised $1,000 or just a few dollars, Ingram says the most important part is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a night.
“It might not be the coldest night of the year — we’ve had a few pretty cool days this winter — but it can help you understand what people in your community are experiencing during the winter when they don’t have anywhere warm to go. Maybe they’re out there walking in the cold, their clothes are wet, they have nowhere to dry off.”
“Put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a little bit and understand how people in your community may be struggling this winter,” she adds.
For more information on individual walks, to register, or to make a donation, visit cnoy.org.
