The Downtown Mission wants to wipe out homelessness by walking on a cold winter's night in Windsor.
The mission is joining communities across the country with its annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser on Saturday evening, supporting programs gearing toward helping those who are homeless, hungry and hurting.
Participants, according to the Mission, will be leaving the warmth and comfort of their homes to show solidarity with vulnerable people who are often forced to spend all night, every night on the streets. Volunteers will be getting a taste of the challenges these people face.
The Coldest Night walk is the Downtown Mission's most significant fundraising event on its calendar, having raised $41,000 in 2018. This time around, they hope to break the $50,000 mark in pledges.
The mission's event is different from a "coldest night" fundraiser put on by the Windsor Residence for Young Men, which was held Friday night into Saturday morning. In that one, volunteers agree to sleep outside in the cold for the night to raise money.
The Mission's walk begins at 5 p.m. at its Victoria Ave compound and will choose from courses in the downtown core that are two, five and ten kilometres in length. Chili will be served to participants at the Mission once they complete their walk.
For complete information on the Coldest Night walk or to learn how to donate, visit the Mission's official website.
