The Mustard Seed is looking for ten more team captains to help lead the Coldest Night of the Year Walk, taking place February 28th in cities all across Canada.

Krista Dawn Kimsey with The Seed says captains will need to enlist seven to eight friends to walk with them, set a team goal for sponsorship, and then raise funds to support programs and services at the Mustard Seed. 

“All of the funds will go towards our general programming. It will strengthen our current programs in the shelter, offering the 40 shelter beds, to our housing residents in the supportive housing building, and being able to provide three nutritious meals a day to all of those residents,” Kimsey explains.

Kimsey says the walks are an opportunity for residents to step into someone else’s shoes for a short time and get a glimpse of what it feels like to be without a home or a vehicle in the thick of winter.  

“No one should have to spend a night out in the cold, at these temperatures especially. The Point-in-Time Count last year showed us there are over 1000 people who are not currently housed, so there is a huge need for more services and more beds.”

She says The Seed is hoping to raise $20,000 this year, as numerous roles and programs within the organization are dependent on this supplementary funding. The Mustard Seed is one of two organizations conducting a Coldest Night of the Year walk this February. The other is the YWCA, which has a $70,000 fundraising goal.

“In Saskatoon this year, there are going to be two separate walks; one on the west side and one on the east side.”

For more information or to sign up as a team captain, head to CNOY.org.