CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – The promotional drive is in full swing for next month’s Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser in Campbell River.
The Campbell River and North Island Transition Society is hosting the Saturday, Feb. 23 event, and they’re looking for community teams to take part in an annual event that supports the hungry, homeless and hurting in the region.
To accomplish the goal of raising $35,000, the society is looking for team captains who will recruit seven or eight friends to their team.
All funds raised will go to the society’s newest affordable housing project, which will provide 40 to 50 affordable suites, due to begin construction in spring, 2019.
The project will be located on Fir Street, close to the society’s headquarters.
This is the second year the society has hosted the Coldest Night of the Year and executive director Valery Puetz said all of the hard work that goes into putting on the fundraiser is well worth it.
“We go gung-ho trying to get everybody involved and come walk with us,” Puetz told the MyCampbellRiverNow.com newsroom.
“And it’s kind of a chaotic and crazy day.”
Participants will walk either two or five kilometres through downtown Campbell River, starting at 5 p.m. at the Navy League Hall.
This family-friendly event will include a hot meal, and the chance to walk together to raise awareness of homelessness in the community. The Coldest Night of the Year is a nation-wide fundraiser, hosted by non-profit community groups in more than 100 locations.
Puetz said the Coldest Night allows community members to gather together to experience a taste of what it is like to be homeless on a cold winter’s evening.
Last year’s fundraiser drew roughly 200 walkers.
“It was tremendous,” Puetz said, looking back on the 2017 event. “It was just a lovely feeling to be out doing this together for a good cause and then afterwards there’s a little socializing and a hot meal. It was fantastic and we’re really looking forward to doing it again this year.”
To become a team captain for this event, visit www.cnoy.org/campbellriver and click the ‘Register’ button at the top of the page.
Create your new account, selection your location and you’re on your way.
If you’d like to be a participant, but don’t want to start a team visit www.cnoy.org and click the Register button, create your account, selection the location, click to accept the waiver, then click ‘Join A Team’ and search for the ‘Transition Board and others’ team.
The early bird fee to register is $25 and adults who raise $150 or more, or youths who raise $75 or more, do not have to pay the registration fee. If you register after Feb. 18, the registration fee is $40.
“The goal, really, is a little bit of awareness and a whole lot of fundraising because we need money to do what we do,” Puetz said. “We can’t support as many people as we want to unless we can raise a bunch of money so we need all the walkers we can get out there walking and having a little fun, but also fundraising.”
About the society
In Campbell River and on the North Island, the Campbell River and North Island Transition Society is a non-profit society which operates the Ann Elmore Transition House and Rose Harbour Transitional Housing in Campbell River as well as safe homes in remote locations.
The Ann Elmore House is a short-term emergency shelter which provides shelter, support, food, clothing and basic necessities for women and children at risk of abuse or violence.
They also offer detox, supportive recovery and stabilization programs.
Rose Harbour is a program which includes time-limited subsidized housing and services for clients who are impacted by homelessness, abuse, violence and/or substance misuse.
Programs offered include in-house life skills workshops, Rent Smart training, health services, a community kitchen and much more. The Society also offers child and youth support services, outreach services, a 24 hour telephone help line and more.
For more information about Coldest Night of the Year, visit www.cnoy.org. For more information about the Campbell River and North Island Transition Society, visit www.annelmorehouse.ca
