The Coldest Night of the Year charity walk returns to Terrace this Feb. 25.
Run by the Ksan Society since 2017, the fundraising event asks for donations to support the society’s charity programs, and includes a walk through Terrace to raise awareness for the cause.
The Ksan Society has a wide range of charitable programs, but funds for this event will primarily go toward cold-weather programming like providing shelter, groceries, hygiene products, warm clothing, and any supplies to support shelters.
“We operate beyond our contracted capacity,” said Ksan Society spokesperson Vicky Serafini. “So the funds that we raise are really important in making sure that we can provide the basic necessities for those folks who are using the shelter services.”
The society has been operating since 1979, and began as a grassroots organization of a few individuals to address homelessness in their community. Since then, their programming has expanded into three main branches: anti-violence programming, social housing and emergency shelters, and food security and sustainability.
“When it comes to providing these social services, non-profits do get funding,” said Serafini. “But it really is important that the whole community supports.
“That’s everything from individual citizens just showing up, and showing their compassion, and showing that they see that these social issues are important and they need to be dealt with — all the way up to big companies putting their support behind our work.”
At time of writing, 92 walkers have registered, a mere eight short of Ksan’s goal of 100. The society has also raised 85 per cent of their funding goal of $30,000.
Anyone looking to register can visit the Coldest Night of the Year website.
The walk will begin at Loen Ave and Kalum St, and include two loops of the five kilometer route.
READ MORE: Volunteers step up to the grill to help the Ksan Society