Shelter of Flint is encouraging Genesee County residents to bundle up and rally their friends and family for The Coldest Night of the Year (WALK). A family-friendly winter fundraising walk for Genesee County’s homeless, and hurting, the WALK takes place on the evening of February 26, 2022 with both in-person and virtual options.
The in-person WALK takes place at Bentley Community Schools, located at 1170 N. Belsay Rd. Burton, MI 48509, where walkers will register, turn in the results of their fundraising efforts, and return at the end of the evening to celebrate their achievements. The entire walk will be outdoors with physical distancing and other safety measures in place. Participants will walk a 2km or 5km route and will warm up with hot beverages at a rest stop inside the Bentley Middle School cafeteria.
At the same time, virtual participants will be walking solo or with their families, bubbles and teams on self-designed routes throughout our community. All those who raise over $150 (or $75 for youth) will also don iconic beanies as they face the cold night.
By walking together in the chill of the night (whether physically or in spirit), participants will better understand the experience of being on the streets during a cold Michigan winter, while raising funds to aid the work of Shelter of Flint in providing much-needed support to families and individuals experiencing homelessness in our community.
“It’s cold, but that’s part of the point,” says Linda Bielskis, president & CEO of Shelter of Flint.
“We’re asking supporters to not only raise funds to support our work, but to help us draw attention to the difficult conditions people living on the streets encounter every day,” Bielskis added.
This is Shelter of Flint’s first year taking part in the Coldest Night of the Year, and an expected 200 walkers and 15 teams, including staff and friends of Shelter of Flint, will brave the cold winter’s night.
Those interested in walking, donating, or learning more can visit cnoy.com/flint.
Founded in 1983, Shelter of Flint includes a 70-bed emergency shelter for single women and families experiencing homelessness, as well as street outreach and permanent supportive housing programs.
