CREDIT: YONGE STREET MISSION
Thousands of walkers from across Canada are fundraising money for Coldest Night of the Year, a walking fundraiser that raises money for the homeless.

Grab some mittens and pack on the layers, because it's time for the Coldest Night of the Year.

The campaign, put on originally by Blue Sea Philanthropy in Kitchener/Waterloo is a national fundraising initiative to raise money for organizations that work with the homeless or those within the margin.

Tiffany Irwin, event co-ordinator for Coldest Night of the Year, said the event aims to help these organizations to receive extra support.

“Our goal is to help other charities raise support for their charitable objectives,” she said. “We saw the need, especially at this time of year for organizations ... because historically it's the coldest month of the year, but it's always the month of the year a lot of our partners receive the least amount of funding.”

Irwin said the network of community charities is so tightly knit that organizations know each other, and get involved that way.

“Organizations that have partnered with us in the past, often they will suggest us to other organizations that they know of in other cities,” she explained. “[Or] we recruit other partner organizations that we hear of.”

Mission Services in London was recruited by Coldest Night of the Year, and has been involved for the past three years.

Connie Spuria from Mission Services praised the initiative and the help it achieves.

“It's a great event to raise awareness in our city about what it's like to be homeless or struggle with poverty in Canada and in the city of London,” she said. “Our goal is to help raise awareness and also raise funds that go back in to our organization to help clients that come into Mission Services.”

Within Mission Services are five branches to help different sectors within the city: the Men's Mission and Rehabilitation Centre, Community Mental Health Programs, Rotholme Women's and Family Shelter, Quintin Warner House and The Mission Store.

The money that is raised in London will trickle back into these branches.

This year, Mission Services hopes for 40 teams and 300 walkers to join and raise $60,000, surpassing last year's efforts, which yielded $47,000.

“Teams are being added every day, so we're slowly but surely reaching that 40-team goal,” said Spuria.

It's not too late to participate.

“People can register all the way up until walk day,” Irwin said. “People can just come up to the registration table and register right on the spot.”

Irwin said participating helps people in need — maybe even a neighbour.

“It could be anybody,” she said. “These are our neighbours. A lot of people that we help, you may not even know [that they're struggling].”

“People want to experience it, people want to give back, people want to be involved because it's trying to help the community and help people in need in our community,” said Spuria. “What if you had to be out for several more hours or maybe all night? It's really just to help people reflect on what that really means.”

Participants can choose from two, five and 10 km routes, starting at Catholic Central High School (450 Dundas St.).

To learn more about Coldest Night of the Year, visit coldestnightoftheyear.org.

Join Londoners and 63 other communities on February 22 for the walk.