Editor's Note: This story previously appeared on StratfordToday.ca.
NEWS RELEASE
UNITED WAY PERTH-HURON
*************************
Shelterlink Youth Services and United Way Perth-Huron are proud to announce results from the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) event in Stratford.
“The spirit of Stratford was strong on Saturday night,” said Sonya Heyen, United Way Manager Resource Development & Communications. “It was beautiful to see over 450 people embracing compassion and concern, gathering to support people facing difficult challenges including hurt, hunger and homelessness. Every walker, sponsor, donor, and volunteer should be proud of their part in raising $220,322 so far in support of Shelterlink and United Way’s Stratford Connection Centre.”
“Thank you, Stratford, for another successful CNOY event,” added Cate Trudeau, Shelterlink’s Executive Director. “This event has been running the past 10 years, and it continues to grow in terms of funds raised and the number of walkers and teams coming out. We are grateful that year after year this community shows up for us and the youth who need a safe, warm and caring place to stay when facing a crisis.”
Overall, the Stratford Coldest Night of the Year event was the fifth highest walk in all of Canada.
The top five fundraising teams were Monteith Ritsma Phillips, The Sweet Samuels, Stratford Anglicans, Shelterlink Sprouts – Board and Staff and Team Haggis. The top five individual fundraisers were Martin Ritsma, Jana Bayer-Smith, Lucas Ryan, Joanna Gordon and John Wolfe. Donations are accepted at cnoy.org until March 31.
The organizers would like to thank Sara McIntyre-Roy from the Stratford Connection Centre for sharing a story of a client’s lived experience with homelessness. Perth-Wellington MP John Nater also spoke, as well as Mayor Martin Ritsma and Terri Sparling, who both shared reflections on Shelterlink and the history of CNOY in Stratford.
Funds raised go to support Shelterlink’s work with local youth experiencing homelessness, so no youth is left out in the cold or left on their own to navigate this difficult time in their lives. Funds also help support United Way’s Stratford Connection Centre, providing a safe place for vulnerable people, including access to basic needs, social ties and connections with allies and services.
Shelterlink and United Way would like to thank our sponsors, Lead: Core Fuels and McDonald’s Stratford, Gold: Ideal Supply, Mark’s and Stratford Orthodontics, Silver: Home Depot and Tri-Tech Pinnacle Group.
*************************