Coldest Night of the Year raises $41K, more donations welcome

By Ron Giofu

Amherstburg’s Coldest Night of the Year hasn’t hit its target yet but organizers are happy with where they’re at thus far.

The event, which saw 2K and 5K portions, saw 125 walkers and 31 volunteers this year with the total monetary amount raised as of Monday afternoon being $41,129. That represents 82 per cent of The House Youth Centre’s goal, as The House was the local organizer and beneficiary of the local Coldest Night of the Year event.

Program director Morghan Shearon said homelessness and hunger is an issue in this area, with the Coldest Night of the Year events geared towards organizations that can make a difference on that front. Shearon said she attended The House as a student as far back as 2010 and told the crowd the House has made a positive difference for her.

“It was a place to be myself,” she said.

“I could be a messed up teenager. I got the support I needed.”

After graduating from university with a Bachelors of Social Work, Shearon began work at a housing and homelessness organization where she learned that those issues are prevalent in Windsor-Essex County as is mental health.

Shearon added the House has existed for over 50 years and has helped teens and adolescents sort through issues and get the support they need to navigate their youth years.

“We’ve been doing this for 50 years and we want to do it for another 50 years,” she said.

Shearon noted she is the only full-time staff with The House and most people who operate it are volunteers. She said they were thrilled to see the level of support at the Coldest Night of the Year.

Continued on Page 12