Caledon Community Services gearing up for Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser

Last year's event raised over $100,000

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Excitement is heating up for an annual fundraising walk in Caledon. 

On February 24, Caledon Community Services (CCS) will host its Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk. The walk is held annually in communities across Canada to raise money for charities that help people experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness. 

CCS is aiming to raise $120,000 from the walk this year — it's a new milestone, as in 2023 the Caledon community helped CCS smash past its $100,000 goal for that year's walk. Over 200 people attended the walk last year. 

Those interested in registering for this year's walk, as a team, participant, or volunteer, can visit cnoy.org/location/caledon. CCS is also looking for sponsors for the event, and prospective sponsors can visit the same website.  

There's already over 80 people signed up for this year's walk, and CCS Communications Manager Donna Cragg said she expects to see the number grow rapidly as excitement for the walk builds.

Fundraising for the walk has begun too, as nearly $20,000 had already been raised for CCS as of January 23. On January 24, the team captains of teams participating in this year's walk met at The Exchange in Bolton for a launch event.

In 2023, a team of Caledon firefighters were the top fundraisers for the walk, raising over $17,000. 

Cragg said Caledon firefighters will be participating in the walk again this year, and she said it's awesome to have their support.

The annual Coldest Night of the Year walk asks people to take a moment and think about what it would be like to experience homelessness; to not have a warm home to go back to after the walk, or to not know where their next meal will come from. By hosting the walk in the bitter cold of February, CCS leads people in this reflection each year.

There will be two and five-kilometre walks that people can choose to go on for the 2024 Coldest Night of the Year walk, both beginning at the Caledon East Community Complex (6215 Old Church Road).

CCS helps Caledon residents with food and basic needs support, care coordination, and connections to resources. It has a host of other programs and services like accessible transportation, settlement services, and employment services for job seekers.

Its wide range of services align it with the Coldest Night of the Year walk's goal of supporting those experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness‚ as CCS provides help for those struggling with those issues.

Since 2011, the Coldest Night of the Year walk has raised over $96,000,000 across Canada for charities in 166 communities.