Almost 500 people took to the streets in Duncan on a cold and rainy night on Feb. 26 to raise money to help the homeless.
It was the first year Cowichan hosted a “Coldest Night of the Year” fundraiser, which have been held in communities across Canada since 2011, with 160 communities participating this year.
The 67 fundraising teams that took part in the Cowichan event raised more than $92,000 as they walked either a two-kilometre or five-kilometre route through the streets of Duncan to get some sense of what it is to be homeless on a cold winter night.
Participant David Bellis said it was definitely a cold and wet night for the event, and he was pleasantly surprised to see so many people turn out to help the less advantaged in the Cowichan Valley on such an unappealing evening.
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“I was pretty ecstatic to see so many step up to help other people,” he said.
“It was a horrible night weather wise, so it speaks to the spirit of the Cowichan Valley that the fundraiser was so successful.”
The local Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser was hosted by the Cowichan branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Anne Marie Thornton, manager of community engagement for the local CMHA and a main organizer of the event, said it was expected that about 200 people would participate, with the goal of maybe raising $50,000.
So she was also delighted with the community response and that 67 teams, including teams from a number of businesses and organizations like the Duncan United Church, Cowichan Tribes, Cowichan Women Against Violence Society and Duncan’s Galaxy Motors, took part.
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“We are incredibly grateful for the community support shown for this event,” Thornton said.
“From the 42 volunteers, to the 67 team captains and the 494 walkers that fundraised, walked and donated to support homeless youth in the Cowichan Valley. Equally amazing was the feeling that the event created. It was so very heartwarming to see people coming together in kindness to make a positive impact in our community.”
Thornton said the money raised from the event will be used to help create a new safe space and programs for homeless youth in the Cowichan region.
“Our Open Door Youth Services Centre closed last fall after the building it was in was sold,” she said.
“We want to open something similar in which young people can have access to support workers and programs, get a shower and do some laundry.”
But Thornton acknowledged that finding an affordable place to buy or rent is difficult in today’s marketplace, so the CHMA expects the association will have to conduct a multi-year campaign to raise the money and find a place to fit its needs.
“The money raised this year will be held until we find a location,” she said.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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