Robin Graham got the idea from someone she follows on Twitter.
They were participating in The Coldest Night of the Year in New Brunswick, a nationwide walk to raise money for homelessness.
“I wonder if there’s one in my city,” Graham thought.
She looked online and saw Charlottetown was holding the event. The local goal was to raise $40,000 for Harvest House, an outreach centre and shelter. But they were only about two to three per cent of the way.
Graham wanted to help. She walks and drives past Harvest House regularly and sees people going in and out.
All she had to do was sign up a team and raise money, but she didn’t want to do it alone.
She talked to a friend, Alyssa MacKinnon, who agreed to join her team along with some other friends.
Graham has been raising money mostly through social media, she said.
“I just shared it on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook, and I also messaged some of my friends and my family.”
While fundraising is good, it can’t solve everything, she said. More beds are needed, too.
“I know it is hard to add more beds during COVID. But, really, in a province like ours, where short-term rentals sit empty, and even hotel and motel rooms sit empty, there’s no reason someone should have to be on the street.”
Harvest House provides educational, spiritual and mentorship resources or at risk youth and adults, along with shelter space and transitional beds.
How to help
- The Coldest Night of the Year is a nationwide fundraiser for homelessness, hurt and hunger.
- The Charlottetown event hopes to raise $40,000 for Harvest House.
- Harvest House is an outreach centre and shelter in Charlottetown.
- The walk is Saturday, Feb. 20.
- The Charlottetown Coldest Night of the year is at 76 per cent of its fundraising goal. Donations are being collected at CNOY.org.
