Region gets ready ahead of 'Coldest Night of the Year'
One of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the region's less fortunate is about to get underway this weekend.
The 'Coldest Night of the Year' is being planned in North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins, where thousands is expected to be raised to keep institutions like Sudbury's Samaritan Centre going.
"This is how the Samaritan Centre makes most of its money. It's this Saturday, February the 25th, we have so many participants this year. It's a wonderful thing to be doing," said the centre’ executive director, Mark Dennie.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Dennie said the walk solicits participants from all walks of life, from across the city. Schools like Macleod Public School and students from school boards like Conseil Scolaire Public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario.
"We're going to have a big event down at Bell Park on Saturday, so it starts at 4 (p.m.) but if people want to come down and walk along the path and do some skating, sliding beforehand throughout the Bell Park area,” he said.
“We're going to have some rest stops, people can donate if they want along the trail, they can come in, have some coffee, some hot chocolate and see what fundraising is all about."
Dennie told CTV News this single fundraiser allows them to keep costs low for tenants like the Blue Door Soup Kitchen and the Elgin Street Mission.
Funds raised will go to New Hope Outreach Services, which in turn allows them to keep the costs low by paying utilities and maintenance.
The Samartian Centre houses food programs, shower services, Internet and also serves as a warming area on cold nights.
"This year's theme is going to be a little bit different, I'm calling it 'it's not just a walk in the park for the homeless,' because we're walking through Bell Park," he said.
"At certain stations we're going to have some stories of homeless people and how they got back on the right track. That's a big part of it, what we're doing at the Samaritan Centre and helping people who may have made a wrong decision in their life."
It's a similar situation for the organizers of the Sault Ste. Marie walk, which will go to benefitting St. Vincent Place.
"It's our largest annual fundraiser, it's a winter walk. We have participants join us here at St. Vincent Place and then they set out on a 2 or 5 kilometre week after collecting pledges to do so,” said Sara McCleary.
“After they're done their walk they come back here for a bowl of chili to warm up."
The non-profit is also home to many services in the Sault.
"St. Vincent Place operates a mens' transitional residence, a soup kitchen, thrift store, food bank and our lunches for learning program through the soup kitchen so all the funds raised through the ‘Coldest Night of the Year’ do stay here at St. Vincent Place,” McCleary told CTV News.
“We divide the funds up amongst the different programs and this year they're primarily going to go to the mens' transitional residence and the lunches for learning program. Some will go to the food bank as well."
She said their goal for the walk this year is to raise $100,000, they have beaten it the last two years and she has high hopes with how they're doing so far.
"It's a really fun event, when we come here together before the walk we'll have a face-painter and a photo booth set up," McCleary said.
"It really kind of helps drive home for people that there are people who have nowhere to go in this cold, they have no other options."
For more information on the event or how you can help, visit their website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
DEVELOPING Israel targets air defence system in Syria, state news agency says
Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.