United Way Perth-Huron is launching the first Coldest Night of the Year Walk in Goderich and in Exeter next Saturday.
United Way Executive Director Ryan Erb said the walk is a national event, but a first for Goderich and Exeter. It's being held in recognition of the fact that homelessness is now a fact of life in Huron County and seems to be most visible in Goderich and Exeter.
Erb said they're asking people to form teams of walkers and solicit donations from family members or friends for their efforts.
“One of the reasons why the walk started in the first place was to raise funds for shelters and other homelessness related programs and we do it on the coldest night of the year because we recognize that some people actually are literally living outside in this weather," he said.
Erb said, historically, homelessness was not as visible in rural communities as it was in urban centres.
“We don't always see people on the streets to the same degree, but increasingly so, it's happening in Goderich and Exeter, so we've had people living in front of the municipal offices, or camping on park grounds, those kinds of things and it does happen," he said.
Erb says the walk in Goderich will start at the Goderich Legion and the walk in Exeter will start at the Christian Reformed Church. Details about both Walks can be found on the Coldest Night of the Year website or the Perth-Huron United Way website.
