Walking through wintery conditions to recognize the hardships of homelessness is the idea behind Coldest Night of the Year.
The eighth annual event is taking place in Burnaby tomorrow, Feb. 24, at 4 p.m. with more than 350 people expected to venture around the Metrotown neighbourhood, and is looking to break its fundraising record for a second year in a row.
The 2023 walk garnered more than $110,000 in donations for Burnaby Community Services and the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby.
The fundraising bar is set at $115,000 for this weekend for those same organizations.
As of this publication, Feb. 23, organizers have collected 85 per cent of that record-breaking total at more than $98,000.
The donations, according to Coldest Night of the Year Burnaby, are set to help provide fresh food for the Society to End Homelessness' Tuesday Community Food Hub, essential services via its outreach resource centre, hot showers with the mobile shower program and shelter space during extreme weather events.
"Last year, our team provided support over 130,000 times to people in need," the event's website reads.
"In addition, we have developed new innovative approaches to breaking the cycles of poverty and isolation, continuously helping make Burnaby a better place to live, work, and play."
In 2022, the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby served 698 individuals through more than 8,000 visits to its Outreach Resource Centre. It now serves 150 per cent more people weekly than at the beginning of the pandemic.
Saturday's walk will feature more than 100 volunteers guiding participants to and from Marlborough Elementary School (6060 Marlborough Ave.).
There'll be four rest stops along the way, including BC Housing's office on Kingsway, as well as signage to point participants in the right direction for the 2 and 5 km walks.
Weatherhood's latest forecast is calling for light rain in Metrotown tomorrow afternoon and a temperature of just under 10°C
You can find maps, registration and more information on Coldest Night of the Year's website.
