While Southwestern Ontario Likely Experienced its Coldest Night of the Year During the Recent Cold Snap, the United Way Perth Huron is getting Ready for Its Own Version.
While Southwestern Ontario Likely Experienced its Coldest Night of the Year During the Recent Cold Snap, the United Way Perth Huron is getting Ready for Its Own Version.
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Set for Saturday, Feb. 22, Stratford’s Coldest Night of the Year Fundraiser Will Support Local Organizations Dedicated To Helping People Experiencing “Hurt, Hunger and Homelessness”: Shelterlink Youth Services and the Stratford Connection Center.
Now in its 11th Year, The Annual Fundraiser has experienced tremendous growth, starting as a “$ 40,000 event” that, last year, raised more than 200,000, Said Sonya Heyen, The Local United Way’s Manager of Resource Development and Communications.
“The Event is actually Quite Magical,” Heyen Added. “So There’s about 400 People That Come Together. We hear Little speech about what the (fundraising) does. So Last Year, We Had the Mother of Someone Who Had Used Shelterlink Tell Us About Her Experience. And this year, we’ll have a staffer from the connection center tell us a little about their experiences. ”
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FORMED DURING The COVID-19 Pandemic and Operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association Perth Harth from the St. Paul’s Church Basement, the Stratford Connection Center Those Who Are Unhouse, Accessing Emergency Shelter or Who Are Precariously Housed with HOUSING, MEDICAL, Financial and Legal Services and Supports.
“They do Wonderful Work, and I praise the Staff there for the dedication and care that give to their customers,” Heyen Said.
Shelterlink, which Provids Services Youth Experiencing Homelessness, included a Shelter for Those Aged 16 to 24, supported 107 Area Youth in 2023-2024.
This year, the fundraising walk starts in the lakeside drive parking lot across from tom Patterson Island. The Check-In Begins at 4 pm While the Opening Ceremonies Are Set For 5 Pm There are Two Routes for the Walk Along the Avon River that Both Return to the Bandshell. Following the walk, local restaurant soup surreal will begin serving up some of their delicious offering to participants at 6 pm
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Participants who Raise More Than $ 150 – OR $ 75, If Younger Than 18 – Will Receive A Coldest Night Of The Year Toque in Recognition.
Registration and more information about the Fundraiser can be found online at cnoy.org.
While the Coldest Night Fundraisers Are Held Across the Country, Stratford’s has enjoyed a great Response, Both in the Amount Raised and Number of Participants, in Recent Years. In 2024, Stratford WAS FOURTH OVEALL FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY RAISED AND, THIS YEAR, CURRENTLY Sits 11th. The Stratford Walk is also Currently Second for the Number of Participants at 290, Just a Hair or Two Behind Oshawa, which has 297.
“I think it’s something really tangible that folks can do,” Cate Trudeau, Executive Director of Shelterlink, Said About the Local Support.
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“This is a way that the community can get involved in being able to support the youth in our community. They can form a group. They can get their Friends and family to come out and walk with them. They can raise funds. It’s a fun event. It’s a family event. So it is that accessible for those to be able to come out, ”she said.
Although the Event is ShelterLink’s Biggest Fundraiser of the Year, It also Helps participants Look for Other Ways to Support the Organization, Trudeau Added.
“We do get asked if there’s Another Event Because Folks Do Want to Kind of Support Us Throughout the Year. . . . THen, throughout the year, there’s Other Ways of Being Able to Donate MONTHLY OR DONATE ITEMS OFF OUR WISH LIST IF PEOPLE PREFER TO KIND OF DONATE ITEMS. So There’s Always Opportunities to Support throughout the Year in Various Different Ways, ”She Said.
The United Way Perth Huron is also Hosting Five Other Coldest Night Events, Including One in Listowel at the North Perth Municipal Office, With Funds Going to the Charity’s Work in North Perth Perth On Housing and Homelessness and Mental Health, and Another in St. Marys at The Pyramid Recreation Center, Which is fundraising for St. Marys Community Outreach Worker Position and the Nourish Equal Access Food Market.
More information on all of the area walks can be found at PERTHHURON.UNITEDWAY.CA.
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