Warm hearts motivate Cold Night walkers

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This article was published 12/02/2024 (584 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More than one thousand new families accessed Brandon’s food bank at Samaritan House Ministries in 2023, and the number keeps rising says Barbara McNish, the non-profit’s executive director — proof that an upcoming fundraiser is badly needed.

“Last year, we provided 35,967 hampers with a total of 1,052 new families accessing our food bank that never used the food bank before or are returning after years of not using it,” McNish said.

“Even in January last month, we had another 42 new, so there’s new coming every month, and it’s not stopping.”

And that’s why McNish added, she is hoping that hundreds of people will join her for the annual, nationwide fundraising walk called, Coldest Night of the Year, scheduled for Feb. 24, 2024, in Brandon.

It’s a family-friendly walk to raise money to support non-profits that help homeless and low-income Canadians.

“Last year we raised about $18,000, and this year our goal is $20,000. And basically, we are going to put it towards the food bank and the safe and warm shelter. So, we’re going to buy food,” McNish said.

When people come to the food bank, they are supplied with enough food to last for a couple of days to get them through to the next pay cheque, McNish added.

Clients can come in for a “big shop once a month,” and then every week they have the option to receive perishable items including buns or bread, and if there is enough, said McNish: “Milk. Because children need milk.”

Staff members at Samaritan House also provide more than 480 “kit bags” with food, for people who are homeless and don’t have access to a kitchen or cooking appliances.

Plus, about 30 to 35 people are accessing the charity’s 41-bed Safe and Warm shelter each night.

“So, we do a variety of things, and all those numbers are included in those who are coming to us for support. And that’s what the Coldest Night of the Year walk does — it helps us with both the shelter and the food bank,” McNish said.

As of Feb. 11, there were 18 teams registered for the two or five kilometers walk, and more are encouraged to sign up, according to the Coldest Night of the Year website.

McNish’s team is called the Frosty Belles and Beaus, which is one of two teams from Samaritan House — the other is called Sun Dogs.

Championing the cause and encouraging her colleagues at Westoba Credit Union to become walkers, is Karen Burton, the company’s community engagement lead — and a first-time participant.

So far, their team, the Winter Wanderers of Westoba, has nine members along with their families, Burton said.

“The Coldest Night of the Year is so well-organized; it really gives you all the tools and makes it super easy to participate. Everybody raises money, then we pool it as a team, and we’re all encouraged to share it on our social media,” Burton said.

“You just throw it out there and it is amazing how many people say, ‘hey thanks for doing that’, and want to give anywhere from five to 20, 50 or $100.”

Being a board member of the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation has given Burton additional perspective about the importance of supporting Samaritan House, she said.

“I’m fully aware of the issue of people being un-housed and how quickly that can turn. I always think it’s just one financial crisis away from disaster,” she said. “And, I think in order to fully understand that you need to see that it can be a reality.

“So, this is also a great opportunity to raise awareness and Brandon certainly needs some awareness brought to it.”

The Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk starts and ends at Knox United Church on Feb. 24. Check-in is at 4 p.m., with send-off at 5 p.m., and at the finish line a light meal will be provided for the walkers.

The Brandon Barbarians rugby team have volunteered to be parade marshals, and if first aid is necessary, Brandon Search and Rescue will be there to answer the call.

This will be the tenth time McNish has walked the route during the Coldest Night of the Year, and she said she looks forward to it every year.

“It’s nice to get out into the community, so you can personally thank people, shake their hand, and say, we do not do this work alone,” McNish said. “It’s because of you that we can help those in need. And so, you are helping us help others.”

For more information on how to sign up as a walker, volunteer, donate or become a sponsor for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk, call 204-726-0758, extension 2, or visit https://cnoy.org/location/brandon.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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