Refuge Youth Outreach Centre in Oshawa raises $133,000 on Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk

Thanks to the generosity of friends, neighbours, businesses and organizations, the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser for the Refuge Youth Outreach Centre in Oshawa reached its goal even before the walk even started.

Coldest Night of The Year is a Canada wide one day walk event held on February 26 that highlights the realities of those experiencing homelessness, while simultaneously raising funds to provide practical help to the homeless, with money raised in Oshawa going to the Refuge, a drop-in centre that serves homeless, hurting and hungry youth 26 and under.

There are 165 locations for the walk across Canada, with 481 turning up for the walk this year in Oshawa, including 70 who did the walk in their own neighbourhood.

The Refuge Youth Outreach Centre offers programs that meet basic needs, encourage transformation and generate awareness, teaches homelessness prevention and above all, provides hope for youth in need of a leg up.

This year’s fundraising foal for the organization was $90,000. By February 25, the target had been achieved and surpassed and by the time the walk was over, Refuge had raised nearly $133,000.

 

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The top fundraising team this year was District 250 Dominators, which raised more than $20,000. The team captain manages several Starbucks locations around Durham.

There were seven other teams that each raised more than $5,000, including the Hebron Happy Hikers, Westminster United Church and RE/MAX Jazz.

General Motors Canada was also a generous contributor, donating $5,000 as well the team fundraising they did while joining other participants on the walk.

The Refuge is a home where youth can find food, clothing, personal hygiene products, a place to shower, do laundry and participate in programs; as well begin to heal from their past and begin to build a real future. The centre, now located on Court Street, has helped more 3,000 young people since they opened in 1999.