Valley Credit Union makes $20,000 donation to Coldest Night of the Year

The Valley Credit Union has made a donation totaling $20,000 to the Open Arms Coldest Night of the Year Annapolis Valley fundraiser.

Since beginning fundraising efforts in the fall, credit union staff collected $15,000 in donations, more than double their initial target.

In addition to collecting donations in-branch, they sold snowflake cookies provided by Fresh From The Oven in Greenwood and sold tickets on two different prize draws.

One prize draw involved a Christmas gift card tree and the other involved two Nova Scotia themed signs, one donated by Valley Flowers and Crafts and the other donated by a credit union member.

“We are so impressed by the staff’s hard work and our members’ generosity,” said Valley Credit union president and CEO Len Ells. “We added an additional $5,000 for a total donation of $20,000.”

The Coldest Night of the Year is a nation-wide, family-friendly, non-competitive winter walk that raises money for charities serving hungry, homeless and hurting people in our community.

This is the ninth year that Open Arms has hosted Coldest Night of the Year Annapolis Valley.

The money raised is used to help maintain Open Arms’ outreach programs, including drop-in centres, the Inn

From The Cold Emergency Shelter, food programming and supports, a furniture bank and more.

Event limitations due to COVIID-19 saw Valley Credit Union’s 37 team members completing their Coldest Night of the Year walks in communities between Hantsport and Bridgetown on Feb. 20.