Barry Coulter
A family-friendly winter fundraising walk for Cranbrook's homeless, hungry and hurting is set for this weekend — the evening of Saturday, February 25.
The Coldest Night of the Year (WALK), organized by Community Connections Society SE BC, sees Cranbrook join 100 cities across Canada to raise cash for the homeless. By walking together in the chill of the night, participants will better understand the experience of being on the streets during a cold Canadian winter, while raising funds to aid the work of the Homeless Outreach and Prevention Programs in the community.
And everything looks set to go for the inaugural event.
"We are feeling very good about the progress of the even," said organizer Margie DeNeef Slute in an email. "We have reached not only our sponsorship goal, we've surpassed it and we have reached our goal for number of teams. And the momentum is still building.
"We're pretty excited and so appreciative of the support from the community. That of course includes all the volunteers it takes to run a successful event!"
East Kootenay Community Credit Union (EKC), the lead sponsor, helped the event reach its fundraising goal with a recent donation of $3,000. EKC directors and senior managers joined the Community Connections' Homeless Outreach and Prevention team of Tracy Pound and Erin Pan and Community Connection representatives Gwen Noble and Kim Levie at an information session at EKC.
EKC presented a cheque for $3,000, which was raised by staff with 'Jeans Day', member donations and like all EKC donations from their co-operative practise of contributing at least four per cent of pre-tax profits back to their local communities.
"The walk has sparked conversation amongst our staff about our homeless population," said Mindy Atti, Team Captain and Branch Manager of East Kootenay Community Credit Union.
"Even though we may not see Cranbrook as having members of our community at risk, like some major centres, it exists, and we need to work together and make a difference."
Community Connections Society SE BC is hosting the walk and wants to let people know there is still time to sign up and get involved in the family-friendly winter fundraising walk on the evening of February 25.
Registration opens at 4 p.m. at Mount Baker Secondary School, followed by Opening Ceremonies at 5 p.m. At 5:15 pm the Walk begins (all distances). Registration closes at 6 p.m.
Walk options include a two kilometre, five kilometre or 10 kilometre route, starting at Mt. Baker Secondary School. Warm up stations with toasty drinks are from Tim Hortons and Hot Shots.
The walk finishes at the Community Connections Society where the Heid Out Restaurant and Brewhouse, will be serving warm bowls of soup.
It's not too late! Ask your friends and family and join the 25 teams who will try to better understand the experience of being on the streets during a cold Canadian winter night.