The Mustard Seed will once again be participating in this year’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) after stepping away from the event in 2023. This year, will be co-hosting the event along with the Red Deer Food Bank.  

“Our team met with the team at Blue Sea, which is the national organization that runs Coldest Night of the Year right across the country and we were able to come up with an amicable agreement. So, we're very excited to move forward. We have an outstanding relationship with the Red Deer Food Bank and are very excited to be working with them for the hungry, the hurting, and the homeless,” explained Scott Tilbury, Senior Development Officer for Red Deer’s Mustard Seed. 

Coldest Night of the Year is Canada’s national walk for homelessness and poverty. Both the Food Bank and the Mustard Seed have seen a steady increase in need over the past couple of years. The Mustard Seed and the Red Deer Food Bank have decided to take part in the event together as both organizations will be celebrating their 40 years in Red Deer. 

Last year, the organization offered ‘Move with the Seed’ which was a movement-based fundraiser but this year, the Mustard Seed is encouraging locals to participate in a two or five-kilometer walk that will take place at a CNOY location. Otherwise, participants are also able to take part in a self-organized off-site walk that will take place any day in February.  

With both organizations taking part, the in-person event is expected to be a bit bigger.  

“It's going to be a carnival-like event. We're expanding into the parking lot this year. We've done it inside, but we're going to have many lines because there's two organizations for registration,” added Tilbury.  

Participants can also take part in raffles, and complimentary beverages and snacks.  The event will take place on February 24, 2024. 

You can register for the walk, by clicking here.  

 

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