BEDFORD — Community members will lace up their boots later this month to take part in the Coldest Night of the Year Walk for Homelessness, a family-friendly fundraiser supporting the Men’s Warming Shelter and its year-round efforts to assist neighbors in need.
The walk is scheduled for Feb. 28 in Bedford and is part of the broader Coldest Night of the Year campaign, a winter fundraising initiative held in communities across the United States and Canada. The program is organized internationally by the Blue Sea Foundation and partners with local charities that serve people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness.
Locally, proceeds benefit the Men’s Warming Shelter, which was founded more than a decade ago after a man froze to death on the streets during a bitter winter night. Organizers say the tragedy underscored the urgent need for a safe, warm place for men facing homelessness.
Since then, the shelter has grown beyond providing overnight beds. In addition to meals, clothing, and emergency shelter, it connects clients with support services ranging from health care to job training, all aimed at helping individuals transition toward independent living.
In the past year alone, organizers say more than 100 people — including men, women, children, and elderly residents — have moved from homelessness into stable housing with help from the shelter and its partners. On especially cold nights, the shelter’s reach extends beyond its walls, assisting families with temporary motel stays, delivering hot meals to elderly shut-ins, and helping warm homes lacking adequate heat.
The Feb. 28 event will feature a one- and five-kilometer walk designed to raise both awareness and funding. Organizers describe it as “frostastic” and welcoming to participants of all ages.
Register for the event today here.
Businesses and community leaders are also encouraged to get involved through sponsorships. Levels range from $200 Friendship Sponsor to $5,000 Lead Sponsor, with additional tiers at $500, $1,000, and $2,500. Sponsors receive recognition on signage and social media tied to the event.
Organizers say community support is critical to sustaining the shelter’s mission in Lawrence County, where winter temperatures can pose life-threatening risks to people without stable housing.
Those interested in sponsoring the event can submit a sponsor card with payment to the Men’s Warming Shelter, donate online using the event’s QR code, or contact organizers via email at cnoy.stonecityalliance@gmail.com.
As temperatures become unpredictable in this season, organizers hope residents will step out into the cold — in solidarity with those who have no choice — and help ensure no one in the community is left without warmth, safety, or hope.
