Over 100 walkers will hit the streets of Chatham later this month to raise money for those in need.
The Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) walk is set for Saturday, February 22. The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for Neighbourlink Chatham-Kent.
"It's a Christian Ministry to the poor for poverty alleviation, that's what we're into, poverty alleviation," said Managing Director Al Baker. "There are different forms of poverty, I don't want to get into it all now, but there are the working poor and there are the homeless."
The non-profit runs a number of programs throughout the year in Chatham-Kent, including a financial education course, and Street Frenz, which distributes sandwiches to the homeless community weekly.
The 2025 walk will take place at a new location.
"We were at the former St. Anges School last year, but as you know, it's been sold to the municipality," said Baker. "But one of our supporting churches welcomed us in, that's Grace CRC up on Tweedsmuir Ave. W. That will be the start/finish location."
Registration for the walk will open at 4 p.m. and the walk will get under way at 5 p.m. followed by a light meal at 6 p.m.
The goal this year is to raise $80,000.
"Don't know if we'll get it, but we've done it once before. This is our ninth year doing it, and once we hit over $80,000, so we can do it again," said Baker.
For more information, or to register to participate, visit https://cnoy.org/location/chatham-kent. All participants under the age of 17 will need to have a parent or guardian sign a waiver.