Participants in last years' coldest night of the year walk. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Coldest night of the year

Braving the cold to fight homelessness

Feb 20, 2020 | 10:11 AM

Around 20 people are set to hit the streets in support of the YWCA on Saturday night, pounding the pavement to raise money for programs combatting homelessness.

The annual Coldest Night of the Year walk takes place in cities across Canada with funds benefitting various charities. Last year over $18,000 was raised for the Prince Albert YWCA, but YWCA communications and marketing coordinator, Jesse Kendall says fundraising efforts have been slower this year. Just over $6000 has been donated with two days to go.

Money raised will go primarily towards programs that provide shelter for people dealing with homelessness.

Kendall says the number of individuals and families accessing those programs increases in the winter.

“In the summer, you can stay outside and you’re not going to freeze to death, you can be outside in the summer and it’s okay,” she said. “But in the winter it really is a lot harder to deal with not having a home. It’s dangerous to be outside with the weather.

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The YWCA’s 10-bed emergency cold weather shelter has been full almost every night this year.

“There’s a lot of people struggling in the community and they don’t have a place to go,” Kendall said.

Registration for Saturday’s event begins at 4 p.m. at Save-on-Foods on 15th St. E. Participants will walk 2 km, 5 km or 10 km routes.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom