Generous hearts warm coldest night
Up to 400 people warmed the heart of New Glasgow on the annual Coldest Night of the Year Walk to combat youth homelessness, leaving from the Christian Fellowship Church Saturday.
Led by the Pictou County Roots for Youth Society, the walkers came in their ones and twos as well as entire teams of fundraisers, formed by groups of friends, work colleagues and even the local cadets.
“We always think of homelessness as being adults sleeping under a bridge or something, when they are teenagers that are couch-surfing with their friends,” said walker Heather Facey from Westville. “So now they have the Roots house, which is perfect.”
Roots for Youth’s director Stacey Dlamini said that her group helped 18 young people end their homelessness last year.
Over the last two and a half years, Roots has assisted roughly 45 local youths in need of safe housing.
However, she echoed Facey by saying that homelessness in most rural areas is a surprise to many, as “we don’t see young people sleeping on benches or visibly out in the elements.”
However, youths who are forced to leave home still need a safe place to stay.
“When young people cannot be at home for whatever reason, typically they find themselves in very vulnerable situations, where they’re staying with that guy that lets kids ‘hang out,’” said Dlamini. “It’s not safe.”
Coldest Night of the Year is a Canada-wide walk held on the same day in February, spanning roughly 130 communities. Young people in crisis can contact Roots for Youth at 902-695-3241 or visit them at 603 East River Rd. Anyone needing help can also contact the group via the Pictou County Roots for Youth Facebook page.
Roots for Youth helps people at risk of homelessness aged between 16 and 24.
The New Glasgow Walk set off from the Christian Fellowship Church on Abercrombie Road. Walkers could complete either a two-kilometre round trip to the West Side Plaza or a longer fivekilometre round trip to the farmers market across the river.
Fundraisers in each community can choose an organization that fights homelessness to donate money to, which in Pictou County happened to be Roots for Youth.
“Our youth is certainly an important piece of our community and I think the more people that we can help to stay off the streets, the better,” said walker Sueann Cassidy.