The Stratford community really ‘stepped up’ to help its own.
On Saturday, 474 walkers, made their way around the Avon River at the Coldest Night of the Year. Sixty-nine teams raised just over $220,000, with contributions still rolling in.
Shelterlink Youth Services Executive Director Cate Trudeau said Stratford was second out of 222 communities in funds raised.
“That’s Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, those are like big communities and we are number two in the country,” said Trudeau.
“We’re just grateful and astonished at how amazing our community is.”
She said the money will support Shelterlink’s shelter and prevention services, and the Stratford Connection Centre’s drop-in support program.
While they did beat their goal of $200,000, Trudeau said this year’s amount is just shy of the $225K raised in last year’s CNOY, the highest ever raised.
Teams in St. Mary’s raised $53,125 for the outreach worker and nourish market, which provides fresh, affordable produce and food to the community.
She added the amount could go higher as donations come in throughout March.
