- The Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is a family-friendly local walk scheduled for February 24, 2024, in support of City Street Outreach.
- Participants can now register as individuals or form teams with friends and colleagues.
- Walkers and teams are encouraged to fundraise in advance of the event to support City Street Outreach. This year’s fundraising goal is $57,000.
- Those seeking more information, wishing to register, or looking to make a donation can do so by visiting the Stouffville Coldest Night of the Year website.
- Volunteers are also needed for a variety of roles on the day of the walk. Additional details about volunteering can be found on the CNOY volunteer page.
City Street Outreach is a volunteer-run and donations-based charity that provides food, clothing, assistance, and other resources to those in need in Stouffville and throughout the GTA. The organization works diligently to supply coats, sleeping bags, and food to the unhoused and distributes approximately 8,500 pounds of food and 700 pounds of pet food every week.
Stouffville resident Sarah Carrick has been participating in the walk since its inception in Stouffville and now volunteers with City Street Outreach. “The walk is a great opportunity to create a platform and raise awareness of homelessness and hunger,” Carrick shared. She told Bullet Point News that the funds raised will contribute to the charity’s vehicular fleet’s operating costs.
The event includes a 5k and a 2k walk, both starting at the Stouffville Pentecostal Church at 189 Sandiford Drive. The 2k walk will proceed north to Main Street, east to Mostar, turn south until Hoover Park, then return west back to Sandiford and the Church. The 5k will head north to Main Street, then east to Mill Street, cross the street, and return west along Main, concluding back at Stouffville Pentecostal on Sandiford.
Participants should check in at 4 p.m. on the day of the walk, with the walk commencing at 5 p.m. The Doner and Jones Century 21 Realty team have generously offered their office on Main Street as a rest stop for those in need of a break from the cold, and hot beverages will be available. A light meal will also be served after the walks conclude.