About 200 participants didn’t let the chilly temperatures deter them from coming out on Saturday.
In fact, it was the reason they were there.
“It’s supposed to be cold,” said Al Baker, network co-ordinator for NeighbourLink Chatham-Kent, with a laugh.
The five-kilometre walk, in its sixth year, raises funds for the registered charity. The main goal is to ensure food security and transportation, such as to grocery stores or medical appointments, for those in need.
This year, more than $70,000 has already been raised, with an initial goal of $50,000.
“I’m ecstatic, I really am,” Baker said. “It’s great to see the community come out to support the cause that we’re involved in.
“Without the community and without our community partners, the work of NeighbourLink wouldn’t go very far.”
Participants at the former St. Agnes School gathered on Croydon Street in Chatham for the event.
There was also a virtual option where people could walk on any day, on any route, throughout the month of February.
“It’s always been a phenomenal community response,” Baker said. “People around here are very conscious of their neighbors and concerned for their well-being. This is just one way to show it.
“The demand for what we’re doing is always going up, because of the high rental rates and the inflationary growth.”