By Adam Donnelly

Kamloops warms up to the Coldest Night of the Year

Feb 25, 2019 | 11:14 AM

KAMLOOPS — For the past seven winters, New Life Community took part in the Coldest Night of Year, a Canada-wide fundraiser meant to draw attention to the plight of those living on the street during the cold winter months. On Saturday, the 8th edition of Coldest Night for the Year was held at the Mustard Seed New Life Community Outreach Centre, after the service organization changed management last year; while the name may be different, the need for the services they provide remains as crucial as ever.

While temperatures didn’t dip as low as we’ve seen earlier in February, Saturday was the Coldest Night of Year (CNOY) at the Mustard Seed New Life Community, as over 100 walkers took to the streets of Kamloops as a fundraiser for the Outreach Centre on West Victoria Street.

“Look at all these fabulous people that are here,” CNOY Organizer Leigh-Anne Larsen said on Saturday evening, just before the walk. “I’m thrilled. We’ve got 120 walkers and our teams are maxed out, so I’m curious to see how much we’re going to raise in the end.”

Many of the walkers had taken part in the Coldest Night before, like Lee-Ann Donald and her Southwest Striders.

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“For us it’s really important because we believe in Jesus Christ’s mission of looking after poor, taking care of the vulnerable,” Donald said.

With the money raised in Kamloops going to fund the Outreach Centre at the Mustard Seed New Life Community, the walkers know their fundraising efforts will directly help those in the community struggling with a variety of issues.

“A lot of addictions, a lot of mental health, those are the big, big needs in our community right now,” Larsen said. “[Mustard Seed] are trying to address that – they’re trying to not only have an open space for people to come to, but to equip them with things they need to know to further their journey.”

“To see people on the street, and to realize they don’t have a warm bed at night, or a place to go, or a family to call upon… for me, it’s important that the funds go to help New Life Community in the community,” Donald explained.

So far, the Coldest Night of Year Kamloops has tallied over $26,000 in donations, which is 62% of their $42,000 fundraising goal; with contributions still being counted, that number is expected to rise, allowing the Outreach Centre to continue providing essential services to those in the community who need them.