Walkers aid Streets Alive
By Bobinec, Greg on February 24, 2020.
Herald photo by Greg BobinecParticipants gather at the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge for Streets Alive Missions annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser Saturday evening. @GBobinecHerald
Greg Bobinec
Lethbridge Herald
Dozens of community members gathered to walk and raise funds and awareness for Streets Alive Mission’s annual Coldest Night of the Year Walk.
For the last 30 years, Streets Alive Mission has helped battle poverty in Lethbridge, providing physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the poor to empower them to change their lives. Over the last nine years, the community has been able to support their efforts and their programming through the Coldest Night of the Year Walk.
“Today is our Coldest Night of the Year Walk and it is not very cold but we are going to walk anyways and we are raising funds and awareness for Streets Alive,” says Marie McLennan, Director of Fund Development, Streets Alive Mission.
“Our goal for this year is $60,000 and our numbers have been great, we have over 150 walkers here tonight coming out to support us and 23 teams, so we couldn’t be anymore thrilled.”
Throughout the evening, walkers were challenged to a two- or five-kilometre walk or run around the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge, and were rewarded with a hot chili supper. Walkers were encouraged to raise funds from their community as well as donating at the event.
McLennan says they hold many different fundraisers throughout the year to help keep their regular programming going. The Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser helps them with regular programming such as making sure at-risk individuals are fed, clothed and have the basic supports they need.
“This walk is to raise awareness for the homeless in Lethbridge. This is a nationwide walk that is happening in communities all across the country and we are really working hard to make sure that people aren’t out in the cold,” says McLennan.
“We have several different fundraisers over the course of the year, but Coldest Night of the Year is our poverty-based programming, so the money is going towards trusteeships, making sure that people are being fed every day. It is going to make sure that our pin bank can continue to operate which offers clothing exchange and warm coats and hoodies and stuff for people.”
Streets Alive Mission is celebrating 30 years of assisting the homeless community in Lethbridge. From originally helping a couple dozen individuals a week, the organization now assists around 150 individuals every day looking for food, shelter and supplies. During their 30 years of service, they would like to thank the continued and dedicated support from members of the community.
“It is a big deal for us this year because it is our 30th anniversary at the Mission and our ninth year for Coldest Night and we are really excited,” says McLennan. “Just getting to have the time to see the people, talk with them and thank them personally for coming out and doing the work, we have had some individual walkers raise over $5,000 towards the mission and this is such a fun family friendly event.”
If you were unable to make the annual Coldest Night of the Year Walk fundraiser, the website stays live for a few weeks following the event for anyone who would like to donate to Streets Alive Mission. Donations can be made online at cnoy.org/lethbridge, or in person. Donations of clothing are also always accepted at Streets Alive Mission.
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