Coldest Night of the Year returns to St. Marys to spread community warmth

Pictured from left are Coldest Night of the Year organizers Pam Zabel, Jackie Cousins, Terri Iredale and Gwen Bradley.

By Alex Hunt

Locals will have the opportunity to make a difference by using their strides to spread community spirit and warmth next month.

The United Way Perth-Huron is hosting the sixth annual St. Marys Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) fundraiser on Feb. 28. The initiative aims to support residents struggling with food insecurity and homelessness. Locals interested in walking to raise funds are encouraged to register at cnoy.org.

“Until I started working with the United Way, I just wasn’t aware what was going on in our community,” said Gwen Bradley, an event organizer with United Way St. Marys and area volunteer committee. “I don’t know if it’s just rewarding or eye-opening. I’ve begun to understand things that I didn’t know before.”

Bradley said the goal is to raise $56,000, and funds will be directed to support the Town of St. Marys’ community outreach worker and the Local Community Food Centre’s Nourish Equal Access Market. Outreach worker duties focus on assisting individuals in finding housing and addressing other personal challenges while the Nourish Equal Access Market runs a bi-weekly market at St. Marys United Church offering fresh and affordable produce and meats to locals, as well as educational cooking programs.

Bradley hopes as many as 200 locals will walk through the town as part of CNOY this year. Walkers will start at the Pyramid Recreation Centre (PRC) at 5 p.m. and follow the route down James Street South to Elgin Street East to Church Street, then from Queen Street to Milt Dunnell Field. The walk will continue from Water Street towards the museum and finish at the PRC. Upon return, walkers are welcome to help themselves to soup and sandwiches.

Bradley leads the campaign in St. Marys with the support of the local volunteer committee. She said the group is enthusiastic to bring the event back to the community, and it keeps growing every year.

“Being part of this walk makes me feel like I can make a difference. Every year, more people join,” Bradley said. “Seeing the community come together to support those in need is both inspiring and motivating. It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we all work together.”