Whether or not the thermometer says it, February 22nd will be the ‘Coldest Night of the Year'(CNOY), a wintertime walk that raises essential funds and awareness for community members experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger.
This year, given the economy, it is a particularly difficult one for many people. Although it may not be obvious, many are hurting, hungry and homeless. Saugeen Shores Food Bank, among others across the region and the country, are experiencing overwhelming needs.
Southampton Rotary and the United Way Bruce Grey are partnering to bring the ‘Coldest Night of the Year‘ FUNdraiser to Southampton for the first time.
Andre of United Way in their 2025 Coldest Night toques
On Monday, January 6th, event organizers from Southampton Rotary and the
United Way, presented a delegation to Saugeen Shores Council asking for its support.
The 2km or 5km walk held last year in Port Elgin had a goal of $50,000 that was exceeded with a portion of the funds going to the YMCA Rural Homeless Outreach and United Way Utilities Assistance programs.
The family-friendly event welcomes participants of all ages and abilities. Teams and individuals can register now to walk 2km or 5km routes while raising funds for this important cause. Every step taken helps provide essential services and support to vulnerable community members.
The walk will begin at Southampton Rotary hall on Grey Street with the following schedule:
Organizer and volunteer, June Van Bastelaar, said that are many homeless sleeping in tents and who are ‘couch surfing’. “These are the ones we don’t know about,” she said. “There are over 600 people on the waiting list for affordable housing in Saugeen Shores and those are the ones we know about. Last winter, an older woman came to us at the Food Bank. She was sleeping in a tent and needed a sleeping bag.”
Van Bastelaar also thanked Saugeen Shores Council for the steps it has taken when it comes to housing. “… Housing inventory is increasing and the grant to help people with rent and the United Way assistance for utilities, all of it is making a difference.”
Councillor Dave Myette also issued a friendly challenge to Council members to meet or exceed last year’s $2,700 raised by Council. “As former Chair of the United Way, I can tell you that all funds raised go to good causes. When it comes to the Utility Assistance program, funds go to people in need all across Bruce and Grey Counties, and there are people in our community who are in real need.”
Mayor Luke Charbonneau added that he had participated in the walk and it’s always a “great, well-organized fun event and one that we can all be proud of. Last year, the County of Bruce provide 1,500 nights of shelter to folks across Bruce County who were experiencing homelessness and it appears we are reaching those numbers part way through this year and we know it’s a serious problem and one that’s getting worse. It takes a lot of effort from a lot of different people in a lot of different ways to solve the problem. No single effort or no single thing will solve it but we know that with all sorts of groups, raising money and trying to find solutions, we help those folks experiencing homelessness across our region. I look forward to walking.”
Van Bastelaar also pointed out that for anyone who cannot walk, there is also the opportunity to donate at Coldest Night of the Year.
See the updated Saugeen Shores scoreboard
