Shows of support welcome at Woodstock’s Coldest Night of the Year

Knowing that times are tough for a lot of Oxford County families, the organizer of Woodstock’s Coldest Night of the Year wants folks to know everyone is welcome at the upcoming fundraiser.

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Even if they can’t afford to contribute financially, or aren’t able to actively fundraise, Scott McKague said people are “invited to come out as a show of support.”

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“If you’re interested, and it’s something you care about, we want to see you out at the walk,” McKague said.

That being said, organizers are still hoping to bring in $150,000 at the Feb. 24 walk to help those in the Friendly City “experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness.” Like previous iterations, the fifth annual Woodstock walk will be supporting Operation Sharing, which operates the Inn Out of the Cold homeless shelter and other programs aimed at helping the region’s impoverished.

“We’re just really appreciative of everyone who continues to give, times being what they are now,” McKague said.

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“Visible homelessness was a big-city problem before, but now we see it in places like Woodstock and Tillsonburg,” McKague added. “People are reaching out more to organizations like Operation Sharing. A lot of people were living on the edge, and everything has accelerated in the past few years.

“People who were just getting by are really struggling right now.”

Since being launched in Woodstock about five years ago, the local Coldest Night of the Year has become one of the most successful in Canada, raising more than $200,000 in each of its past two years. This year, organizers set the fundraising goal at $150,000.

“We did drop (the target), but it’s still pretty gigantic number,” McKague said. . . . We’re slightly behind, but I’m pretty hopeful, by walk day, we can hit that number.”

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One of the reasons for this more conservative fundraising goal could, ironically, be contributed to the Woodstock event’s success. Once the only Coldest Night of the Year in Oxford County, this year marks the twin debuts of events in Ingersoll and Tillsonburg that will help raise money for the United Way Oxford.

“In Woodstock, we’ve lost a little momentum,” McKague admitted, “but it’s great for Oxford County. The United Way is doing great things.

“For a whole county or area, it’s great to have more people involved. We’re all striving for the same goals. . . . This whole area is really tops in Canada, between Stratford, our walk, Ingersoll and Tillsonburg There’s obviously a lot of care.”

In terms of people, Woodstock organizers are hoping to reach 400 walkers “if numbers keep trending the way they are,” McKague said. Ace of Jan. 29, the Woodstock event had 225 registered walkers, 55 teams and a total of $58,110 raised.

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“The numbers really accelerated in the last three weeks. . . . There’s still so many people willing to give, even with their own bills being stressful,” said McKague, who’s organized the Woodstock event since its inception.

Because of the event’s continued success, organizers have also shifted the location of the walk from College Avenue United Church to College Avenue secondary school to accommodate the anticipated crowds.

“I think it’s the only building large enough to house the people we have coming,” McKague said.

The Woodstock event begins with a 4 pm check-in before walkers begin strolling either a two- or five-kilometer route at 5 pm from the high school starting point. Participants are then invited back to the church for a light meal.

People interested in more information or registering for the event can visit the Woodstock Coldest Night of the Year website at cnoy.org/location/woodstock.

Founded 13 years ago in Kitchener-Waterloo, Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walks are now held in more than 165 communities across Canada. The walks raise funds to combat homelessness and poverty in each host community and, collectively, have raised more than $96 million.

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