On Saturday, February 25, the School of Pharmacy welcomed hundreds of cold and brave members of the community looking for a quick break and a cup of hot chocolate. The School was a rest stop for the Kitchener-Waterloo Coldest Night of the Year walk, organized by Ray of Hope Community Center.
Coldest Night of the Year is a fundraising event that partners with local organizations like Ray of Hope across the country. Since 2011, Coldest Night of the Year has raised over $12 million for the hungry, hurting and homeless in over 100 communities across Canada. On Feb 25, 18,235 people pledged to walk routes of 2km, 5km or 10km in cities from coast to coast.
The School of Pharmacy was a rest stop for the Kitchener-Waterloo 5km and 10km walks. The 612 walkers that signed on with Ray of Hope could choose to stop in our building to enjoy fresh fruit, snacks, and hot chocolate or coffee donated by event sponsors. Most importantly, the School gave participants a chance to warm up from the cold.
Throughout the walk, a team of bundled-up pharmacy student volunteers stood outside directing participants with signs, welcoming them into our building, or cheering them on as they passed. With cold winds blowing and occasional snowfall, the short break inside was a welcome one for many.
The School has partnered with Ray of Hope and Coldest Night for several years now, and is proud to be a part of the Kitchener-Waterloo walk. This year’s Coldest Night event raised over 4 million dollars in support of combatting homelessness across Canada.
See more Coldest Night photos on our Facebook page.