Downtown Mission gears up for its biggest fundraiser of the year

The Downtown Mission, Windsor, November 26, 2024 (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)

The Downtown Mission’s largest annual fundraiser is set to take place this weekend, as the Coldest Night of the Year returns on Saturday.

The event will bring together hundreds of walkers and teams, all rallying to support individuals facing homelessness, hunger, and poverty in Windsor.

As of now, the Mission has raised nearly $95,000 toward its $110,000 fundraising goal.

Every night, more than 140 people rely on the Mission for warmth and safety, and without strong community backing, the organization cannot meet the growing demand for its services.

Speaking on AM800’s The Shift, Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin, Executive Director of The Downtown Mission, highlighted the community’s unwavering support.

“Happy to see so many walkers come and join us this year, I think we have possibly the highest number we’ve ever had with over 300 walkers, over 40 teams.”

While she expressed gratitude for the donations, she emphasized that the event carries a deeper significance. “It’s a great fundraiser for sure for us, for our community, but it also shows the people that we serve here at the Mission every day and night that there’s a whole community of people out there that support them, and love them, when they may not know that.”

Ponniah-Goulin stressed the critical role this fundraiser plays in sustaining the Mission’s operations. “This event will help us keep our doors open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It’s our biggest fundraiser, so every year we depend on this event to help us reach our financial requirements for the year to keep our programs going.”

Now in its 13th year, the Mission has been hosting this event since 2012. Registration will begin at 4 p.m. at 875 Ouellette Avenue, with the walk taking place between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Funds raised through this initiative directly support the Mission’s ability to provide hot meals, safe shelter, and essential support programs to those in need.

Those wishing to contribute can make a donation by visiting the Downtown Mission’s website.