SOURCES is encouraging White Rock residents to bundle up and raise cold, hard cash for the Coldest Night of the Year (WALK). The annual family-friendly winter fundraising event will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2019, and SOURCES is hosting it for the sixth year in a row.
“Come down and walk the waterfront with us,” said SOURCES CEO David Young. “The WALK is a fantastic event for people of all ages, and beyond that, it is essential for our programs that serve the homeless, hungry and hurting in our community.”
Nearly 300 people participated last year, and with their pledges, donations, and support from event sponsors, over $75,000 was fundraised for SOURCES’ Homelessness Prevention Services and Rent Bank. With those funds, SOURCES was able to assist hundreds of individuals in Surrey, White Rock and Delta, who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, to secure safe housing and offer ongoing support to help them remain housed.
“People who are struggling with their housing situation may not look like the stereotype. They are also students and coworkers living paycheck to paycheck. They could be facing an unexpected family or health emergency that prevents them from working. They are seniors living on a fixed income who have to pick between paying bills, buying groceries or taking their medications. Homelessness may not be apparent in South Surrey and White Rock, but it is here; and with the rising costs of rent and housing in general, sustaining services like our Rent Bank is more important than ever. While some of our programs receive government funding, the Rent Bank is not one of them. In fact, it is completely self-funded through donations generated from the WALK.” — David Young, SOURCES CEO
SOURCES is hoping to see even more people register to walk and fundraise this year, and has set a goal of $100,000.
So far, there are 52 walkers signed up and just over $11,000 on their scoreboard. South Surrey based Elkay Developments Ltd. is the Lead Sponsor for the White Rock WALK for the fourth consecutive year.
Co-chairing the WALK are Sources Foundation board members Srinivasan Rajagopal – a past-president of the Rotary Club of White Rock – and Tracy Redies – the MLA for Surrey-White Rock.
Across Canada, thousands of participants in 135 locations will be taking part in the WALK on the same evening. The White Rock WALK begins at 3 p.m. (an hour earlier than others, as requested by previous years’ participants), at Sources Peace Arch Resource Centre (882 Maple St. Click for Map). Donning iconic blue toques, participants will walk a 2, 5 or 10 km route. Sponsored coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and other toasty treats will be offered at rest stops along the way, plus a warm celebration meal at the finish line.
Registration is free for children 0-10 years old, and $25 for others – but that increases to $40 after February 17. The registration fee is waived for youth aged 11-17 who fundraise $75 or more, and adults who fundraise $150 or more.