With temperatures frequently hovering just above zero Celsius this month, the Salvation Army Gateway of Hope鈥檚 emergency shelter, including extra relief mats, was often at maximum capacity.

On Saturday, Feb. 24, the public is invited to join the Gateway of Hope as it hosts its 10th annual Coldest Night of the Year walk.

The Coldest Night of the Year is a Canada-wide initiative that encourages people to walk through the cold and dark either on a 2 km or 5 km route to better understand what it鈥檚 like to experience homelessness and to raise money and awareness.

The charity event is a family-friendly walk to raise money for organizations serving people experiencing 鈥渉omelessness, hurt, and hunger.鈥�

Coldest Night of the Year is a family friendly event that raises awareness for the hurt, hungry and homeless in our communities, and it's happening on February 24th.

Find our location using the link below and sign up now!

鈥� Gateway Of Hope (@Gateway_of_Hope)

Gateway of Hope provides services such as emergency shelter, transitional housing, family services, school supplies, and more than 100,000 meals per year, said fundraising coordinator Nick Ivey.

鈥淓ach season presents its own challenges. We will continue to assist all those who come through our doors with dignity, compassion, and care of service to the best of our abilities,鈥� he said.

Ivey added that the Coldest Night event is a great opportunity for people to 鈥済et involved on a local level with the immediate needs of the community.鈥�

鈥淚 think people don鈥檛 necessarily understand why people are on the streets. They could be on the streets because they just lost their job, made a bad investment, or maybe their landlord wants to renovate their home and now they can鈥檛 rent that space anymore, so finding housing is a bit more difficult,鈥� explained Julie Gilfillan,

This year鈥檚 goal is to raise $40,000, and its currently $25,000 short.

Currently, there are 15 teams registered for a total of 101 walkers, who can pick the 2 km or 5 km walking routes.

Teams include Inclusion 91原创, Living Waters Church, and 91原创 Chamber of Commerce.

The walk starts at 4 p.m. from the Gateway of Hope at 5787 91原创 Bypass, and ends around 7 p.m.

People interested in participating can sign up online at .

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