The Faris Team Goes FULL OUT for the Coldest Night of the Year
On Saturday, February 25th, 2017, over 18,000 people nationally participated in the Coldest Night of the Year, a family friendly fundraiser that raises money for the hungry, homeless and hurting in 113 communities across Canada. Locally, The Faris Team was honoured to be the lead sponsor of the Orillia event. The Orillia event raised $82,000 of the $4,000,000 that was raised nationally!
The Orillia event saw over 400 participants gathered at the Lions Oval Public School in support of the Lighthouse Soup Kitchen and Shelter in Orillia. Participants had a choice to walk 2 km, 5 km, or 10 km. Several Faris team members participated in the event, handing out Faris Team cookies to fuel the walkers prior to their start. Dressed in their Faris Team jerseys, many team members took part in the 2 km walk on the cold and chilly Saturday evening, and enjoyed the delicious warm meal that was donated to walkers upon their arrival back at the school.
More than $82,000 was raised by Orillia walkers, which was 82% of the $100,000 goal for Orillia. The 2016 event brought in just under $35,000, so it is great to see that the 2017 donations have exceeded by nearly $50,000! Some of the funds raised from the walk help to support The Lighthouse Soup Kitchen and Shelter in Orillia’s operating costs. In 2016, the Lighthouse served 17,000 meals to men women, youth and children throughout the community, and has 14 beds for men which are full every night. Funds will also be put towards a dream that The Lighthouse team wish to build, called Building Hope.
Their vision is to create one building with several services meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. They hope to see The Lighthouse and The Canadian Mental Heath Association collaborating under one roof. They are realizing economies of scale, and service delivery is efficient and effective.
Within Building Hope, they hope to see shelter services and a soup kitchen, plus a range of safe, affordable housing, as well crisis beds, and many supportive services like mental health and addictions counselling. They also see housing spaces available along a continuum ranging from emergency shelter to supported affordable housing with connections to permanent housing in the community.
For more information on the Lighthouse Soup Kitchen and Shelter and their vision for Building Hope, please visit http://orillialighthouse.ca/the-building-hope-initiative-a-collaborative-model
If you’re interested in participating in Coldest Night of the Year 2018, save the date – Saturday, February 24th, 2018. https://canada.cnoy.org/home
Executive Director of the Lighthouse, Linda Goodall, motivating the crowd
Members of The Faris Team going FULL OUT for our community!
The Faris Team’s General Manager, Ryan Crewson and his two sons Bennett and Gavin enjoying the walk.
Members of The Faris Team stopping for a quick selfie in front of our Orillia Office!