Harvest House P.E.I. is encouraging Prince Edward Island residents to bundle up and raise cold, hard cash for the Coldest Night of the Year Walk.
A family-friendly winter fundraising event for P.E.I.'s homeless, hungry and hurting, the walk is set for Feb. 20.
Thousands of participants will be safely taking part in the walk in an anticipated 150 cities across Canada. This year, Charlottetown will be hosting a blended event with both a COVID-safe, outdoor-only event and a virtual option where people can walk from home.
In a tough year for many Canadians, the response so far to the walk has been overwhelming. Canadians are proving their generosity in a crisis, with average donations on the rise compared to last year’s CNOY results.
By walking together in the chill of the night (whether physically or in spirit), participants will better understand the experience of being on the streets during a cold Canadian winter. They will also raise funds to aid the work of Harvest House P.E.I. in providing much-needed support to members of the community.
The in-person Charlottetown walk begins and ends at Central Christian Church auditorium, 223 Kent St. Walkers will arrive at staggered times, confirm pre-registration, be dismissed with their 2021 toque at pre-arranged times and return at the end of the evening to celebrate their achievements. The entire event will be outdoors with physical distancing and other safety measures in place. Participants will walk a 2-km or 5-km route and will warm up with toasty drinks at the rest stop along the way.
Virtual participants will be walking solo or with their families, bubbles and teams on neighbourhood streets. All those who raise over $150 (or $75 for youth) will also don iconic toques as they face the cold night.
This is Charlottetown's ninth year taking part in the Coldest Night of the Year Walk, and organizers are aiming to raise $40,000 for work with struggling people in P.E.I. An expected 200 walkers on 20 teams, including staff and friends of Harvest House P.E.I., are expected to take part.
Harvest House P.E.I. has been serving P.E.I. for 23 years, and the funds raised in this event will benefit its clients in a time of the year known historically for low levels of giving.
