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More than $70K raised for area programs to help end homelessness

Feb 26, 2019 | 3:57 PM

NANAIMO — Hundreds of people briefly experienced what it’s like to live on the streets in miserable winter conditions.

The weather turned poor Saturday night during the Coldest Night of the Year event, where roughly 360 people walked either two, five or 10 kilometres in Nanaimo or Parksville.

Event organizer Corrie Corfield said the mix of rain and snow forced participants to trudge through the snow and truly experience bone-chilling temperatures.

“It made people realize the importance of what we were doing on Saturday. They talked about what it meant for them, about the realities our city is facing in terms of homelessness and poverty and how close that is for so many people.”

The experience of slogging through the slush and seeing another side of life really hit home for a lot of walkers.

Corfield shared a story, posted by a walker on social media after the event, about how moving the event was.

“She was really impacted thinking about the fact she was cold, wet and tired but was heading home to her nice warm bed and shower and how for many people that isn’t a reality,” Corfield said. “It was really meaningful for her and I know a lot of other people feel the same way.”

Roughly $72,000 was raised between the two locations. The Nanaimo walk exceeded the $40,000 goal, though the Parksville walk fell slightly short at nearly $29,000. The amount raised has steadily grown from previous years.

The money will stay in the community it was raised. In Nanaimo it will fund various outreach programs and shelters like Samaritan House and in the Oceanside area the funds will help people achieve or maintain housing.

“With that money, we’re really able to do a lot and impact a lot of lives,” Corfield said.

Across Canada, the Coldest Night of the Year event exceeded the $5 million goal.

 

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit