YWCA prepares for Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser

The YWCA in Regina is looking to get as many people out as possible on Saturday night for its Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser.

This is the fifth year the association has participated in the national fundraiser along with 136 other communities.

Megan McCormick, manager of events with the YWCA, said the money is important — the goal is $25,000. McCormick mentioned the association’s shelter My Aunt’s Place, which she said has been operating at or beyond its capacity since it opened 10 years ago.

“Fundraisers like this allow us to increase our capacity and support women in the best way that we can,” said McCormick.

Aside from the money, McCormick said getting the association’s message out is just as important.

“(It’s about) making people aware that women experience homelessness differently, or even just understanding that not all homelessness is just that person you see on a park bench or on the corner,” said McCormick.

She said the YWCA often deals with “invisible homelessness,” which is where someone is couch-surfing and moving around from place to place. Women often face it because there are children involved and being out in the open isn’t an option.

Saturday night isn’t expected to be the coldest one of the year — far from it in fact — but McCormick said the weather is still a big issue for those without somewhere to go.

“You think (about) walking to and from your car, just living day-to-day life and how hard that is for us that have a warm place to go and you know that we’re going to be safe all day, and you just think what that would be like if you had 24 hours or 48 hours where you don’t know where your next warm, safe place will be,” said McCormick.

The walk starts at 5 p.m. at St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral on McIntyre Street and goes for two and five kilometre routes through downtown. Donations will still be taken until 6 p.m.