GAP’S ‘COLDEST NIGHT OF YEAR’ WALK FEB. 22 HELPS ‘NEIGHBOURS’ EXPERIENCING HUNGER, HURT, HOMELESSNESS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — I wear a lot of hats — depending on what reporting or charity work I’m doing.

A couple of favourites are GAP caps — one neon Green you can’t miss when I’m delivering food Thursdays.

The other is a bit cooler black with Gravenhurst Against Poverty spelt out.

But each year I don a great toque they give me to mark their Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) walk.

Great tuque, Mark! Every donor who raises or donates $150 will receive this year’s version of the GAP CNOY tuque. Photo Greg Poole, GAP

A good thing because it came in particularly handy during this week’s cold snap — and the fact that I tend to lose them a lot I have a sack of them in my car for emergencies.

Lucky me, because many of my “Neighbours” I deliver to don’t have that luxury.

Although I was happy to see knitted mitts and scarves in the bags and boxes I dropped off the week before Christmas — gifts from busy knitters who donated them to GAP.

Even if those annual donations were a few weeks behind the first late November/early December “Snowmageddon.”

Alas everyone’s head gear has come in handy the past month.

That’s GAP for you — a charitable organization that has been serving thousands of residents for seven years.

GAP is more than a food provider feeding about 1,000 hungry mouths a week.

Funds raised will benefit their “Neighbours” in a time of the year known historically for low levels of giving.

GAP is a major growing social service in Gravenhurst offering community support cooking programs, transportation vouchers and gift cards to those left out in the cold outside basic district and provincial services.

That’s why it has become one of the town’s top go-to donor destinations.

GAP volunteers Nancy and Greg Poole take a walk along this year’s CNOY route on Muskoka Road across from the Opera House. Photos Mark Clairmont

A month from now, Saturday Feb. 22, hundreds of walkers will be trekking town streets up and back from the Wharf to help them raise much needed funds.

It’s their major fundraiser of the year and sixth one they’ve run.

“This family-friendly, win-terrific fundraising walk takes place late afternoon on Feb. 22 and supports people experiencing hunger, hurt, and homelessness,” says PR person Greg Poole.

Upping their goal this year to $185,000, as of Friday Jan. 24 they are already at $48,000 pledged by 94 walkers and 30 teams they are at 25 per cent of their goal.

With 29 days to go there is still plenty of time to join a team, support a walker or donate directly.

The walk begins and ends at the Lions Pavilion at the Muskoka Wharf. Participants will walk a 2km or 5km route, can warm up with toasty drinks at rest stops along the way, and will be able to celebrate their efforts together at the finish line.

All those who raise more than $150 (or $75 for youth) will also don iconic CNOY toques as they face the cold night.

Visit their CNOY webpage at https://cnoy.org/location/gravenhurst

With 29 days to go, GAP is a quarter of the way to it goal. Go to their webpage to donate or sponsor a walker or team.

‘Changing the Tune.’

As you know, The Coldest Night Of The Year is our most important fundraising event of the year.

Last year they raised $177,000 and this year it’s $185,000 with an internal “stretch” goal of $200,000.

“This year’s theme is ‘Changing the Tune.’ And what a sweet tune it will be for our ‘Neighbours’ if we could achieve our aggressive target,” said chair Beth Houston.
You can also:

  1. Volunteer!
    2. Start or join a team.
    3. Sponsor someone who is registered.
    4. If you are a business owner, become a corporate sponsor.
    5. If you have a friend or neighbour who owns a business, please encourage them to become a corporate sponsor.
    6. Help to spread the word to your friends, neighbours and Lake Associations.

To register and/or to get more information please visit:
https://cnoy.org/gravenhurst

Did You Know?

The Government of Canada has extended the eligibility period to claim donations to a charity till Feb. 28, 2025. That means your contributions to 2025 Coldest Night of the Year could be used against your 2024 income!  Please consult the Canada.ca or your tax professional for more details.

Volunteer elfs Marilyn and Nancy were busy at Christmas packing bags of food for “Neighbours,” some of which included scarves and mitts knitted by GAP donors.

About GAP:

GAP has been serving Gravenhurst for seven years, and the funds raised in the Coldest Night of the Year will benefit their “Neighbours” in a time of the year known historically for low levels of giving.

Gravenhurst Against Poverty is an inclusive, open, and transparent grassroots organization, with the goal of reducing poverty within the greater Gravenhurst community. Their vision is to live in a community where all of our neighbours have the opportunity to thrive.

For further information, contact: Beth Houston, chair, at

https://www.gravenhurstagainstpoverty.com/coldest-night-of-the-year

Tens of thousands of Canadians will take to the streets for CNOY with events taking place in 200 cities, towns, and communities across the country. By walking together in the chill of the night, participants will better understand the experience of being on the streets during a cold Canadian winter, while raising funds to aid the work of Charity Name in providing much-needed support.

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