The United Way of Bruce Grey is gearing up to host its first Coldest Night of the Year walk in Saugeen Shores and Kincardine.
Fundraising Champion Kristy Andre says the organization is on its way of meeting its $20,000 goal for both walks.
Andre says currently they have 138 walkers set to participate in Saugeen Shores and have raised $20,780. For the Kincardine walk, she says they have 66 walkers taking part in the event, and have raised $7,635.
The funds raised for the walk in Saugeen Shores will go directly to the United Way, while the funds raised in Kincardine will be split between the organization and the Kincardine Good Food Box.
This is the first year the United Way Bruce Grey is holding this event, which is going the evening of Feb. 25 to support people experiencing hunger and homelessness in Saugeen Shores and Kincardine.
Andre says the community response to the event has been phenomenal.
“We weren’t sure what to expect as these are first-time events in both Saugeen Shores and Kincardine and we are noticing that a lot of people want to get out and help with it, be supporting us with this walk with walking and joining with a team, or sponsoring it in any way that they can, or just sharing the word on social media,” adds Andre.
The Saugeen Shores walk will start and end at Coulter Parkette in Port Elgin, and the walk in Kincardine will also start and end at the Knox Presbyterian Church on Durham Street.
Participants can walk either two or five kilometres.
“If you cannot make the walk, and you cannot come to the events on Feb. 25, you can do it in your own way. The fundraising will stay open until the end of March, so if there is a day that you can do it, you can do your two kilometre or five kilometre walk on your own wherever and whenever, you can totally participate in that way. We recognize that day won’t work for everybody, but we want people to participate in anyway that they can to make this fundraiser a success,” says Andre.
To register for the event, visit the Coldest Night of the Year website here.