March 12th, 2022. By: Michele Weisz, newmarkettoday.ca, Original Article.
BlueDoor
More than 300 walkers participated in the yearly walkathon that raises funds to fight homelessness and poverty in York Region.
BlueDoor
More than 300 walkers and 58 teams helped Blue Door raise more than $160,000 — $20,000 more than their original goal — to provide life-saving services for youth, men, women, and families experiencing homelessness during its Feb. 26 Coldest Night of the Year Richmond Hill walkathon.
Walkers and teams from across York Region participated in the event, including faith communities involved in Blue Door’s Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program and sponsors, including lead sponsors Kylemore, Alectra, and SSQ who will become Beneva.
Local leaders MP Jowhari, MP Leah Taylor Roy, MPP Michael Parsa Mayor of Richmond Hill David West and East Gwillimbury Councillor Terry Foster joined the walk.
“Now more than ever our most vulnerable are disproportionately experiencing the impact of the last two years of COVID-19. The success of this event means so much and is crucial in maintaining the health, safety, and well-being of everyone in our community,” said Faraaz Moledina, marketing and communications coordinator at Blue Door, in an email.
Funds from the walkathon will help provide seasonal emergency housing, warm meals, medical care, and more through Blue Door’s Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program for the very vulnerable experiencing homelessness and poverty, she said.
Walkers and teams can still register and participate virtually at any time to continue fundraising and collecting donations until March 31, 2022. To register, donate, or learn more about Blue Door’s Coldest Night of the Year Richmond Hill walk, visit cnoy.org/location/richmondhill
Blue Door was founded in 1982 and is the largest emergency housing provider in York Region. It provides support to people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness to attain and retain affordable housing. Blue Door addresses the root causes of homelessness through emergency housing programs, the seasonal emergency housing program Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold, transitional/supportive housing, health supports, and Construct – A Social Enterprise by Blue Door.