A local charity is moving towards its 2025 fundraising goal for Coldest Night of the Year.
With about a week to go before walkers will cruise along pre-set routes through the town centre, the Cloverdale Community Kitchen (CCK) has raised 46 per cent ($129,722) of its $280K fundraising goal.
More than 70 teams comprising more than 340 walkers of all ages will descend on the Community Kitchen Feb. 22 to walk the streets of Cloverdale in support of Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), the biggest fundraising event on the Kitchen's calendar.
Participants who raise more than $150 ($75 for youth) will also be given one of the special CNOY toques.
"Every dollar raised through this walk directly impacts our ability to provide nutritious food to families in need," Lindsay Rempel, director of meal programs for CCK, said in a press release in January. "This event is an opportunity for the community to come together and make a real difference. The need for our services continues to grow, and with the help of generous supporters, we can ensure that no family goes hungry."
Rempel said the the Kitchen uses the money raised to provide hot meals for those “experiencing hunger, hurt, and homelessness” in the community. All funds raised aid the Kitchen in serving more than 45,000 hot meals each year to those in need.
"The event aims to raise vital funds that will allow the charity to continue offering its essential year-round programs and to help reduce the 500-family waiting list for its food bank services," she added.
Registration for Coldest Night runs from 3 - 4 p.m., followed by an opening remarks at 4 p.m. The walk commences at 4:30 p.m. and will run along two different routes, one of 2 KMs and one of 5 KMs, which both begin and end at the Community Kitchen.
After the walk, CCK will host a hot meal for all participants.
Tens of thousands of Canadians take part in Coldest Night across 200 communities in Canada.
The Cloverdale Community Kitchen got its start in 2011. At the time, Surrey Mounties and city staffers contacted Pacific Community Church to see if they could distribute meals to homeless in the area after another local charity had shuttered their kitchen and were unable to serve meals anymore. Thirteen years later, CCK is now serving not only Cloverdale, but also Langley, White Rock, and other parts of Surrey.
Anyone who wants to sign up to support Coldest Night can register by visiting cnoy.org.
The Cloverdale Community Kitchen is located at 5337 180th Street.
For more info on Coldest Night or the Kitchen, visit mycck.ca.
