Start Me Up Niagara’s CNOY fundraiser walk was a great success, says event coordinator.
For over 25 years, SMUN has worked with individuals facing significant life challenges such as addiction, mental illness, poverty, homelessness and unemployment.
In an interview with The Brock Press, St. Catharines’ Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) event coordinator Emily Fieguth expressed her gratitude to the participants and volunteers. While there were some “bumps” in the road such as last-minute cancellations, Fieguth was delighted by how the community came together to show support for the fundraiser.
The walk “saw a fantastic turnout,” with 440 registered walkers, 71 teams and 83 registered volunteers. On the day of the event, spontaneous participants raised the number to nearly 500 walkers and 100 volunteers. Many volunteers came from Brock University, Niagara College and Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services. Fieguth herself started working at 10 a.m. to set up and coordinate volunteers and ended around 9 p.m. after packing up. She was the first in and the last to go home. She said it was a very long day, but a very good day.
The St. Catharines CNOY is currently at 90 per cent of its $175,000 fundraising goal, with $157,865 raised at the time of writing.
“I think I was just overwhelmed by the community’s support,” said Fieguth. “Seeing families [and] people engaging in the activities […] touched our hearts.”
The funds will directly help Start Me Up Niagara (SMUN) provide crucial services and programs for the unhoused, including access to medical supports and food security programs like “From Our Garden,” the Bike Me Up program and Niagara’s Mobile Closet.
The theme “Change the Tune” will continue throughout the year. Fieguth will be attending numerous seminars to help spread the message and SMUN is also planning events throughout the year.
In the spring, there are two events: Adopt-a-Row (which fights food insecurity and supports sustainable agriculture by inviting participants to sponsor a row in their garden) and a Celebratory BBQ for SMUN’s donors, sponsors and community members.
In the summer, there will be a “Glow Ride” event sanctioned by Ontario Cycling in the evening. The fall will see the third annual “Stuff the Truck” event with Niagara’s Mobile Closet, a “Mystery & Mimosa Gala” brunch and the second annual “Trunk or Treat.”
The Coldest Night of the Year walk is one of their oldest fundraising events, but it proves time and time again to be one of their most successful.
Donations for CNOY will be accepted until March 31.