February 28, 2026

WARM HEARTS MELT ‘COLDEST NIGHT OF YEAR’ AS HUNDREDS TURN OUT TO RAISE MORE THAN $160,000 FOR GAP PROGRAMS THIS AFTERNOON

GRAVENHURST — The Coldest Night of the Year turned out to be the warmest day of the year this afternoon.

With warm hearts it was ‘Neighbours Helping Neighbours.’

As hundreds huddled inside a cold, damp and windy Lions Pavilion waiting to register teams before heading up street to spread their message of hope and help for Gravenhurst Against Poverty’s community support programs.

The mood outside around a fire was sunnier and as expected jovial and anxiousness with everyone chomping on the bit to get walking on the 2 km and 5km walks.

A year ago this weekend their was a devastating ice storm — making this an extra special time.

**The gang from Clearbrook were back again this year and raising $650 for one of their favourite charities. PHOTOS, VIDEO Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com**

With minutes to go to unleashing the walkers at 5 p.m. executive director Peter Stoplmann updated his phone on the CNOY website and said they just under $160,000 with money still coming in as he spoke.

And with cheques expected to come over the next couple of weeks, he thinks they could be well on their way to president Beth Houston’s goal of $185,000.

Last year they raised $135,000 in their sixth year, he said.

Either way with lots of enthusiasm present the real goal is to make a difference in town.

And that they’ve done again with donors like the Clearbrook Street neighbourhood, one of a dozen teams, who raised $650 among kids and parents — and likely grandparents.

They’re just one example of the success of CNOY locally.

From the Gravenhurst Kennel Club to the Rotary Ramblers and Trinity Trotters there was no shortage of momentum and drive behind the food, transportation and health initiative that feeds some 600 and more each week through their office and distribution space beneath Trinity United Church.