Embracing a little cold could do a lot of good for the community.
The Table Soup Foundation is looking for more walkers to participate in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser on February 25. It’s the Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, bringing in about $19,000 last year. The goal this year is $32,000.
“We have a higher goal this year now that the men’s shelter is open,” said Heather Berg, president of the Table Soup Foundation. “Our financial needs have increased and we’re hoping more people will support our biggest fundraiser of the year. This event raises awareness for the hungry, hurting and homeless. It’s more about the bigger picture and standing behind the people that need us.”
The funds raised from the event will go into the Foundation’s general funds to support its services’ ongoing financial needs. The Table Soup Foundation provides six different services for the community: a food bank, the soup kitchen, a community kitchen, the exchange store, the love connection and the men’s shelter.
The Love Connection Ministry is all the extra special things we do in addition to the other services; birthday bags, gifts for kids, family Christmas sponsorships, we’ve even done some back-to-school stuff. It’s all the extras. We like to see what people need and then offer it, instead of doing what a lot of mission operations in the past have done when they go to third wold countries and decide what they want to bring and do for the community. That hasn’t worked. The best way to meet needs is to ask, ‘what do you need.’ That’s how our services have grown. We keep hearing what’s needed and realized that it’s not offered in the community and God provides a way to do it. The bottom line is we need funds to meet the needs in our community.
Heather Berg, president of the Table Soup Foundation
Berg said the walk is family friendly and walkers only need to walk as far as they’re able. She said some participants have even taken to walking the indoor track, at the Canada Summit Centre, on a different day if they can’t walk outside.
“Anyone can participate. It’s accessible, active and makes a big impact,” said Berg. “If you’re away the day of the walk, you can pick another time to walk. We don’t want the date to be a hindrance.”
The route options range from 2 km to 10 km starting and finishing at the Active Living Centre, with a pit stop at Algonquin Outfitters.
“This gives businesses, churches, schools and families an opportunity to spend time together doing something different outside of their normal time together,” said Berg.
So far the Foundation has raised 25 per cent of its goal with 10 teams and 43 walkers currently registered. {PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR MOST CURRENT INFO https://canada.cnoy.org/location/huntsville)
“It only takes 10 minutes to sign up and send emails to friends and family asking for sponsorship,” said Berg.
A number of businesses have already signed up to sponsor the event such as MBRP Performance Exhaust with the lead sponsorship, Portage Promotionals, Tasso Lake Heating Solutions, Algonquin Outfitters, Staples, Paul Davis Systems, Wheat Free Delights, Comfort Inn and Huntsville Doppler and Hunters Bay Radio as media sponsors.
Algonquin Outfitters is donating a number of prizes for participants including a group canoe trip to Ragged Falls for the team who raises the most funds.
Registration for the walk opens at 4 p.m., with opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. and the start of the walk at 5:15 p.m. There will also be a warm, light meal provided for participants and volunteers from 6 to 8 p.m.
For more information including registering, donating to a team or sponsoring the event visit https://canada.cnoy.org/location/huntsville or contact Christine Cookson, event director, at [email protected] or call 705-641-1889.
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