Warm hearts
Coldest Night of the Year New Glasgow approaching; goal is to raise $50,000 for Roots for Youth
The community has rallied around the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser, as teams and funds continue to add up in support of the cause.
NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — Stacey Dlamini is feeling optimistic about this year’s Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser for Roots for Youth.
As director of the youth homeless shelter and support centre, she has been busy planning for the Feb. 23 event.
“We’re a little bit ahead of where we were at this point last year,” she said. “Our goal is kind of audacious — we’re looking at $50,000 as a goal.”
Already they have 27 teams signed up and funds are adding up more quickly than they have in the past.
Dlamini said they have a great mix of corporate and personal teams that join in, as well as some strong sponsorship. It’s encouraging to see, she said, particularly when there are so many great organizations in Pictou County to contribute to.
“I like to think that people embrace the Coldest Night of the Year because we use it as an opportunity to tell our story as Roots for Youth and to inform the community about what we’re doing and how we work. I like that it strikes a chord with our community and they see us as a cause that’s worthy of support.”
The money raised will be used for the general operations of Roots for Youth, rather than for a specific program, which Dlamini said is particularly helpful because so many grants cannot be used for operations.
“This money allows us to meet the needs where the needs exist. That’s encouraging and important to us.”
The non-profit had a busy 2018 with fewer than 21 days that the house was not used for an overnight stay. They also have a daily drop-in program which offers a chance for youth to come in for a free meal, and they started an employability program.
While on one hand some people view it as sad that there is such a demand, Dlamini said it’s positive that homelessness is now being addressed.
“What it means is that we’re able to address it increasingly and hopefully in an effective manner,” she said. “We’re not just an emergency out-of-the-cold shelter. We’re about helping them move forward and live independently.”