Residents in Greater Moncton are being encouraged to bundle up and walk in support of homeless youth.
This is the eighth year for the Coldest Night of the Year event, for Youth Impact.
Associate Director Tracy Cormier says the walk will be held virtually due to the pandemic.
She adds your help is needed more than ever this year, “The pandemic certainly hasn’t slowed homelessness down and it is increasingly difficult during these times for the youth that they serve.”
Cormier says the number of youth they see is around the same, but the need for meals they are providing everyday has gone up, “There has been a huge increase in food need, at least double if not more. We are handing out bagged lunches everyday, and we are providing hot meals everyday. Before we only had the one hot meal a week.”
The Coldest Night of the Year walk takes place on February 20th, but you can also participate anytime until the 28th.
Their goal is to raise $110, 000. It will help create long term solutions and opportunities for young people between the ages of 16 and 24, and it gives them the tools to move forward.
As of February 18, Youth Impact had reached 74% of their goal. 193 walkers had signed up on 37 teams.
Cormier says, everyone is dealing with challenges during the pandemic, but for these homeless youth, it is even harder, “The isolation and loneliness, but when you have other risk factors attached to that you don’t have a stable living environment, you don’t have a warm bed to sleep in, it makes it all that much more difficult.”
📣2 days, 2 days, 2 days!!We have reached 74% of our goal, have 193 walkers and 37 teams! Don't forget to pick up your…
Posted by Youth Impact Jeunesse Inc. on Thursday, February 18, 2021
This week we are showing our love to our team captains! Thank you so much for taking on this leadership role.
We truly appreciate your support for Coldest Night of the Year and are excited that you and your team will be walking with others in support of Youth Impact Jeunesse! pic.twitter.com/oEK5ieWpCi— YouthImpactJeunesse (@YouthImpactJeun) February 9, 2021