Although it definitely wasn’t the coldest night of the year, hundreds of area residents made it feel even warmer thanks to their generosity and positive spirit.
That goodwill was clearly evident as the more than 500 participants headed out of Lions Oval Public School to walk the city’s streets while raising more than $110,000 for the Lighthouse Soup Kitchen and Shelter during Saturday’s Coldest Night of the Year event.
“This is a good event for the kids because it’s something tangible. They can understand the issue,” said Matt Murray, who arrived for the walk with his family, including six-year-old son Beckett.
“This is his third year walking. All his birthday presents were gifts for this event.”
Lakehead University social work student Alex Knox is currently completing an internship at the Lighthouse.
“Homelessness is a huge issue in Orillia; most nights we’re full,” Knox said, adding it’s important to give back to the community.
Orillia resident Cindy Dixon agreed: “I’ve seen how some of the people have been treated on the street. They’re as important as you are or I am.”
All totalled, the event attracted 61 teams and 522 walkers. Their pledges plus online donations that can be received until March 31 should easily help organizers top their initial $110,000 goal, according to Lighthouse executive director Linda Goodall.
The money will be used to fund the ongoing operations at the Peter Street shelter with some of this year’s donations going towards Building Hope, the campaign to build a new, bigger facility on Queen Street.
The shelter currently has 14 beds for men and is full almost every night of the year; the soup kitchen serves about 25,000 meals annually.
“Those are a lot of numbers, but behind each of those numbers is a story,” Goodall said, noting homelessness is a national issue. “Homelessness is not a choice and that’s why we’re here tonight.”
Orillia’s Coldest Night event is part of a national campaign aimed at increasing awareness about homelessness and raising money to support the efforts, locally, to combat the issue.
“We’re one of 133 (event) locations across Canada,” she said, adding 20,000 Canadians were taking part in this year’s Coldest Night of the Year walks.
Orillia Coun. Mason Ainsworth said it’s essential that everyone does their part to help those in need.
“We’ve been here since year one,” Ainsworth said. “It’s important for us, as individuals and as a council, to help.”
Added Mayor Steve Clarke: “A lack of affordable housing is an issue in the city. This (Building Hope) is a wonderful, worthwhile project, but it wouldn’t happen without the community’s commitment.”
