THUNDER BAY – Like much of this winter, Saturday’s weather was unseasonably warm for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser, which supports the Out of the Cold overnight homeless shelter. But Gary Macsemchuk, a pastor at Grace Place, which runs the shelter, says they’ve experienced higher-than-usual demand despite the historically warm winter.
Hundreds showed up to Summit Church for the event Saturday evening – its popularity has made it too large to be hosted at Grace Place. The fundraiser was already approaching its $70,000 goal shortly before starting. The money comes from pledges raised by around 300 participants, who walk either two, five, or ten kilometres.
Most years, the evening walk in the cold serves as a symbolic reminder to participants of the conditions the less fortunate endure on a nightly basis. But mostly, Macsemchuk says, the event is a way for people to contribute to a good cause.
“It’s been a real blessing to us, this fundraiser,” he says. “It’s allowed us to purchase our building and put in all sorts of capital projects.”
The Out of the Cold shelter runs from the beginning of November until the end of April, offering 15 beds and three supervising staff for those who are unable to access other area shelters. It’s the third year they’ve operated the shelter, and Macsemchuk says there have been no cold-related deaths in the city since it opened.
Speaking to the group before the walk, city councillor Aldo Ruberto also referred to that “key statistic” – zero cold-related deaths on Thunder Bay streets in recent years. He gave efforts like the Out of the Cold program credit for helping to avoid that tragic outcome.
But Macsemchuk still worries that there are more people sleeping on the street than Thunder Bay’s shelters can accommodate. He says the Out of the Cold shelter is at capacity most nights.
“I would say the amount of shelter – whether it be the Shelter House, Grace Place, or the Salvation Army – definitely cannot meet the needs of the homeless population of Thunder Bay,” he says.
Sisters Dawn Holborn and Dianne Gushulak were two of the walkers Saturday evening. They were recognized as top fundraisers before the walk, raising over $1,000 each in pledges. Volunteers at the shelter, they say they’ve seen its good work first-hand. People they approached were happy to give to the shelter, they said.
“It’s a good thing we’re doing here, to help the homeless and the needy,” they say. “They have a place to go to sleep, they get meals, they can get their clothes washed there.”
Macsemchuk adds that beyond the overnight beds, the program is working to lift people permanently out of homelessness. A part-time social navigator assists those who use the shelter in finding housing. He says they’ve been successful in finding housing for several people this year, alleviating demand on the shelter.
