The Coldest Night of the Year 2026

 

What a severe winter we're having!

Snow, frigid temperatues, more snow, and blizzards, and cold, cold, cold. 

On one evening every February, people across Canada walk together to raise awareness, to show compassion, and to raise funds for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and the places that support them, especially at this time of year when being homeless can be deadly.

Here's this from the CNOY website: 

•       We walk through the cold and dark in February to declare our concern for people who have no home and take shelter in nooks and crannies.
•     We walk for those whose days are a battle to house and feed their families and whose nights are filled with fear and frustration. 
•     We walk for those driven from home by violence and abuse. And we walk for people overwhelmed by isolation, guilt, and despair.
•     We walk humbly, realizing that anyone can lose their footing and then lose everything else.

        Each step we take brings someone closer to safety, health and home, as together, we raise funds for organizations whose commitment and work transforms peoples’ lives.

 In Newmarket, we walk to raise money for Inn From The Cold. Follow that link to learn about them. They're such a good organization! Their services have grown so much from the time we hosted them in our church basement! It's much more than shelter that they provide. 

I proudly walk with a team of  people from my church, Trinity on Main, the United Church in Newmarket. And, I'm proud of my family for joining me as often as they do, and proud of my friends and family who donate to support me every year when they can. This includes friends from work and friends from choir.

The walk is not a distance or speed challenge, but more like a rally. We all meet at Riverwalk Commons to hear speeches, and to have a warm-up with fun music. Most people wear matching toques, which we each receive when we raise $150 or more. As we walk through the streets of Newmarket, we hope to draw attention to ourseves to raise awareness and compassion, and to let people know that they're not alone.

If you would like to make a donation to support my fundraising, it's easy to do online. Here's a link:  

 My fundraising page on the CNOY website