In the image is the event team, as well as the manager and assistant manager from Save-on-Foods. They were the start and finish location for the walk and fundraised in the store as well. (Submitted photo/Jesse Kendall)

By Ian Gustafson

Charitable Cause

Prince Albert YWCA raise money to help the homeless

Feb 23, 2020 | 3:55 PM

The Coldest Night of the Year annual walk had nearly 40 people take part in the event.

On Saturday, the walk hosted by the Prince Albert YWCA raised over $10,000 to help the homeless in the community.

YWCA communications and marketing coordinator, Jesse Kendall said the event was overall a success.

“It went really well, people seemed to have a lot of fun and the weather was better than last year,” she said.

While they didn’t meet their goal of $25,000, Kendall said the fundraising total would increase somewhat thanks to a couple of last minute donations from Save-on-Foods and the Northern Lights Casino.

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“It was a little bit slower this year. We had a lot of goods and services donations, but you know some people still want to support but they weren’t able to support as much financially this year,” Kendall said.

She added she was happy with the turnout and acknowledged members of the Prince Albert Police Service for taking part.

The event consisted of three different walk distances including a two, five and 10 kilometre walk.

All the money raised will go to the YWCA for programs and services to help the homeless in Prince Albert.

“Particularly the cold weather shelter – we have a 10-bed shelter in Our House and it’s for first come, first serve overnight stays for individuals who are facing being outside in the cold,” Kendall explained. “We hope to support that and keep serving the community. It’s full every night so it’s definitely a needed service.”

She said they receive funding from a lot of different groups, but it doesn’t always reach as far as they hope. The donations from the Coldest Night of the Year walk will add strength where they need it.

“It gets cold here and we might’ve been blessed the last couple of days with a bit of warm weather but the nights where it goes down below -40 C, well you don’t want to spend that outside,” she said. “People come and they stay over night and they get a warm meal and then they can go about their business.”

“It’s a great program overall – we just wish we had more space.”

She wanted to thank everyone involved such as the volunteers and everyone who donated.

“We couldn’t do it without everyone’s generosity so that’s always really important and this community is always really good about being generous,” she said.

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12