Baby it’s cold outside

By Alyssa Horrobin

On Feb. 20, about 300 people took part in the Downtown Mission’s fourth annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser.  Coldest Night is a walk that happens in communities across Canada on the same night.

The event was organized by Windsor’s Downtown Mission which has provided more than 12,775 safe nights of accommodation to people needing a bed since it opened more than 40 years ago.

Although temperatures were in the double digits on the day of the walk, the Mission understands nights are not just cold because of the temperature.

“It may not have been the coldest night but nothing’s colder than being alone,” said Fiona Coughlin, development director for the Downtown Mission.

The Mission offers breakfast and coffee, two lunch sittings and a soup supper every day but sometimes there is a need for more than just food.  Coughlin said she has seen people come to the meal times at the Mission simply to be with others.

Mary-Jo Kocavs, manager of education and volunteerism at the Mission, said it is very important to foster a sense of community in a safe place for people to visit.  More than 100 people come to the Mission every morning for coffee and fellowship.

“Is our coffee that good that they’re here every single day?  Our coffee is great but they’re here for that community,” said Kovacs.  “They’re here because they feel safe.”

According to the City of Windsor website, the homeless population in Windsor is made up of men, women and children who are without housing for various reasons, with hundreds more at risk of becoming homeless.

The Mission also offers clothing and winter wear for those in need and a place to stay for the night.  Kovacs said people who can crash on their couch or easy chair after work take that privilege for granted.  For some, laying their mat out to sleep at the Mission is the first chance they have had all day to put their feet up.

The Coldest Night of the Year is not just about raising funds but also awareness about poverty in the community.

“There’s a lot of stigma and misconceptions about poverty and about who it affects,” said Coughlin.  “I think that it’s so important for people to actually come to the mission and see our guests and get to know them.”

The event raised about $37,500 which will go toward the Mission’s next step – a dorm with beds and a counselling and support program through the Distress Centre, which the Mission recently added to their support resources.

The Coldest Night of the Year raised almost $3.8 million across Canada.  For information on volunteer opportunities in the community and other ways to get involved, visit downtownmission.com or coldestnightoftheyear.org.