Walking to help others
The Coldest Night of the Year walk raises thousands for those in need
It wasn’t really the coldest night of the year. Temperatures an hour before Saturday’s event hovered at around 2 C. But that wasn’t exactly the point.
Two-hundred and seventy four people turned out for The Coldest Night of the Year walk at Powell Park on Birch Avenue near Barton Street to raise money for Helping Hands Street Mission; a faith-based organization aiming to help people in poverty.
The goal was $60,000 but the event raised $76,867.
The Hamilton Barton event was one of three locally. Hamilton City Centre supported the Salvation Army Booth Centre that had 77 walkers raising $23,158, and the Hamilton Mountain event supporting Neighbour to Neighbour saw 275 walkers raise $132,105.
The local events were among almost 180 across the country.
Participants chose between a twokilometre walk — though organizers admitted it was actually closer to three kilometres — or a five-kilometre loop along Barton Street. Walkers set off with an event passport to be stamped at various locations to qualify for prizes. Stations were set up at Hamilton Urban Community Health Centre, Mohawk City School, Saint Matthew’s House, Indwell, The Bridge, Helping Hands, 541 Restaurant, the Barton Library, The Baby Depot, Habitat for Humanity and the John Howard Society.
Helping Hands Street Mission executive director Alice Plug-Buist said the walk was for “awareness raising,” with 11 other community partners also involved.
“All of us are benefiting in some way by the promotion that we receive and the fact that everybody’s here together to support people,” Plug-Buist said.
“We provide a place where people can share their closet (through donations). So we have a free clothing store where people can get free clothing, hats, boots and things like that (including) blankets and sleeping bags. We also have a café right beside because we realize that people don’t just need stuff they need friendship.
“They need people around and they need networks and so our free café is where people can come for a free coffee and cookies and just chat with staff and volunteers and with each other.”
‘‘ We also have a café right beside because we realize that people don’t just need stuff they need friendship.
ALICE PLUG-BUIST HELPING HANDS STREET MISSION