Pharmacy faculty, staff, and students support local initiatives for homeless and hungry
Last week, students, staff, and faculty from the School of Pharmacy supported local service organization Ray of Hope in delivering two events. Ray of Hope offers hot meals for hungry people each night out of their community centre, and groups volunteer to fundraise and coordinate the purchasing, preparation, and serving.
Waterloo Pharmacy’s work in the community continued on Saturday February 23 with the Coldest Night of the Year walk, organized by Ray of Hope. Each year, Coldest Night of the Year walks occur across Canada, raising money for charities serving hungry, homeless, and hurting people. In Kitchener, Ray of Hope is the charity that is supported. People volunteer in teams, fundraise, and complete either a 2km, 5km, or 10km walk up King street.
For
many
years,
the
School
of
Pharmacy
has
supported
this
initiative
as
a
rest
stop
where
people
completing
the
walk
can
stop
in
for
a
coffee,
snack,
and
break.
Student
and
staff
volunteers
welcome
participants
with
cheering
and
signs.
About
600
people
participated
in
this
year’s
walk,
and
the
teams
together
have
raised
about
$150,000.
Events like Coldest Night of the Year allow the School of Pharmacy to give back to a community that has been so welcoming to its faculty, staff and students. Waterloo Pharmacy is grateful to Flanagan Foodservice who donated goods in support of the community meal the School prepared.