Fundraiser hopes to provide hot meals on cold nights

Organizers of a fundraiser for the hungry and homeless in Prince Albert are hoping to accomplish something remarkable by doing something ordinary.

They are inviting people to walk two, five or 10 kilometers on Feb. 25 as part of a national event called The Coldest Night of the Year.

“We are trying to form teams of about eight people. They’ll all commit to raising $150 to $200,” organizer Shona Stapleton said adding participants might learn something about the challenge faced by those experiencing homelessness and hunger, particularly in the winter.

Currently, there is no hot meal program in the city. Two years ago, the Prince Albert Food Bank was forced to cancel its Share-a-Meal program due to a lack of funding. Stapleton added

“This fundraiser will allow us to try and build partnerships with other organizations to find a kitchen and provide hot meals for those in need,” Stapleton explained.

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She added it’s not just the homeless that need warm meals, but people who fall on hard times.

“I can’t imagine going through that on a daily basis…wondering where the next meal is going to come from,” Stapleton said.

Since 2011, the Coldest Night of the Year has raised over $12 million dollars working with charity partners across the country. Stapleton said all of the money raised at the local event will stay in Prince Albert with the ultimate goal of offering a hot-meal program once again.

teena.monteleone@panow.com

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone