COLD LAKE - On Feb. 22, the Cold Lake Food Bank welcomed participants to its second annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) fundraising walk, bringing the community together in support of those facing food insecurity.
The event kicked off at 4 p.m. and wrapped up at 7 p.m., offering walkers a warm meal and refreshments after their journey along Millennium Trail.
The event was free to register, and participants who raised $75 (youth) or $150 (adults 18+) earned a special event toque.
Participants had the option to walk either 2 km or 5 km, with strategically placed rest stops offering Tim Hortons coffee and cookies along the way. The first rest stop was located at Bumper to Bumper, while the 5 km mark featured a Cold Lake Food Bank van as a second rest stop, providing hot chocolate and beverages for participants.
“Thank you all for coming as always,” said former Executive Director of the Cold Lake Food Bank Nic Caron-Lavoie.
Abiola Owolabi, the new executive director at the food bank, expressed gratitude for the turnout, noting that the event exceeded expectations.
“[There are] more people than we had envisioned coming here today, [because of the] weather in the past few days, though it became better . . . We were expecting this day to be the coldest night of the year,” Owolabi said.
Despite the chilly theme, walkers were met with relatively mild weather.
“Fortunately, we have fantastic weather. So, it's good news. More people came out, and even with donations online, it's quite encouraging. And we're glad the community is supporting what the food bank is doing,” added Owolabi.
Fundraising efforts appeared to be successful, with $6,000 to $7,000 raised leading up to the walk. Owolabi noted that additional donations from volunteers and workers could push the total past the $10,000 mark.
Owolabi emphasized the ongoing need for donations and community support. Contributions to the food bank come in many forms.
“It could be cash donations or food donations or possibly they might volunteer their time and skills to help run the food bank,” Owolabi explained. More than just providing food, the organization fosters empathy and human connection with those it serves.
“It's not just about giving food or showing love,” he added. “Just saying hello goes a long way.”
Events like Coldest Night of the Year highlight not only the need for resources but also the power of community connection. “Each individual can tackle this, but you and I and everyone else can come together to tackle this and bring an eradication to that. We can't leave this to the government,” Owolabi emphasized.
Last year, the food bank served 7,000 households and 21,900 individuals, distributing food, milk coupons, and essential hygiene products.
The community's generosity remains the backbone of the food bank’s success.
“The beauty is, people gave, all gave and gave,” Owolabi said. “Beyond this drive, we're looking at how best we can make people happy, not just to get more money.”
