Put on your toques and winter gear for the third annual Coldest Night of The Year event put on by The Center in Swift Current taking place this Saturday.
This is a national event that different non-profits in cities around the country take on to support the hungry, the homeless and the hurting in their communities.
Executive Director of The Center, Nathan Wiebe details the importance of this annual event.
"A big part of our philosophy with fundraising is how can we get the community involved. How can we get that involvement in the sense where they can feel a pride in investing that time and that energy into an organization that is hopefully doing their best to give back to the community. They can wear that badge around Swift and in our interactions."
Registration begins around 4:30/5:00pm on Saturday with the walk itself starting at 5:30pm.
Wiebe details where the funds raised this year will be distributed.
"So, the fundraising this year will be going right towards that counseling and fundraising aspect of The Center. We do offer a free counselling service and we offer a free mentoring service like a big brothers/big sister. We call it The Center Mentoring, it's the same thing with a different name."
Wiebe adds that their counseling and mentoring services continue to grow to be at the spot where it's so busy that fundraising needs to be at the forefront as they need to add staff to take on the workload.
The Center will be shutting down the street in front of their location for the event and will have fire pits and games for everyone as well as a chili supper for those that are participating in the walk.
According to Wiebe, last year's event saw around 300/350 people attend and they are expecting more this year. In addition, he says this is the third year that they will be hosting this event and it's great to see how the community comes out on the day of and the support from the community prior with fundraising. Last year's event raised just over $66,000 and this year they are looking to raise $80,000, not just to continue to up their goals but also because of the need.
S3 Group Ltd, have come on as the title sponsor for this year's event and Wiebe says they are grateful to all the sponsors, volunteers and The Center staff.
Those wishing to register to participate or make a donation can do so by visiting here and clicking on the Swift Current location.