Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Just over two weeks remain until the Feb. 24 Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser and Napanee’s event organizers are making a push to drum up donations.
Heading into the weekend the numbers showed there was work to be done, having raised about 45 per cent of the $100,000 goal. That puts them about $3,000 of where they were at that time last year. Though trailing last year’s record pace, Lynda Carney is confident the community will help them achieve their objective.
“Come the second week or so of February we will see an influx of donations coming in,” said Carney. “We have walkers who have signed but haven’t begun their personal fundraising campaigns yet.”
Departing from Trinity United Church, participants will trudge through Greater Napanee in a show of solidarity to those experiencing homelessness. Walkers are encouraged to collect pledges from friends and family, which in turn will go towards the Morningstar Mission to assist those experiencing homelessness.
In terms of walkers, this year’s event is in good shape. As of last Thursday there were 47 teams signed up, just three shy of their goal of 50. Overall there were 206 people signed up, just about 40 short of their target of 250.
Walkers can still sign up anytime as an individual, part of a team or as a volunteer for the day of the event at https://cnoy.org/location/napanee. Walkers have the option to register right up until 4 p.m. on walk day in person in the church parking lot. Following the final registrations, participants will depart from Trinity United Church at 5 p.m. Organizers ask when walkers do arrive on the day of the walk that they use the John Street entrance of the church lot.
Money raised will help the Mission’s many programs, including the warming centre. Morningstar executive director Kevin Alkenbrack says the centre is sleeping about 18 people per night and overall has as many as 29 people who visit the shelter on a given night.