The public can sign up to take part in the Coldest Night of the Year walk-a-thon to raise awareness and funds about hunger, and homelessness.
"This is the 14th year that we are hosting the event," said Dan Donkers, Gateway's spiritual care coordinator.
The goal of the Saturday, Feb. 22 event is to raise $34,000. Organizers are hoping to have at least 25 teams and 200 individuals, as well as community sponsors, taking part.
By walking at dusk during a cold winter's night, participants will feel a hint of the challenge faced by those experiencing homelessness during winter. By fundraising, participants will be raising much-needed funds to help the Gateway of Hope to continue to bring hope and help to people in this community who need it most.
"We walk through the cold and dark on this day to declare our concern for people who have no home and take shelter in nooks and crannies," he said. "We walk for those whose days are a battle to house and feed their families, and whose nights are filled with fear and frustration. We walk for those driven by violence and abuse. We walk for people overwhelmed by isolation, guilt and despair. We walk humbly, realizing that anyone can lose their footing and then lose everything. Each step we take brings someone closer to safety, health and home, as together we raise funds for the Gateway of Hope whose commitment and work transforms peoples’ lives."
The family-friendly event starts and ends at the Gateway of Hope shelter, 5787 Langley Bypass. People can walk a two-kilometre or five-kilometre route. Registration is done online at www.cnoy.org/langleygateway.
Check-in on walk day will begin at 4 p.m. with walkers leaving the Gateway of Hope at about 5:15 p.m. Organizers anticipate the last walkers from the longer route returning at approximately 8 p.m. They have carefully planned the route to limit the need for walkers to cross major roads, and where necessary, there will be marshals in place to ensure they adhere to crossing signals and stay on the specified route.
Gateway of Hope provides services such as emergency shelter, transitional housing, family services, school supplies, Christmas hampers for seniors and singles, and more than 100,000 meals per year.
