A local youth has gone from being a participant to captaining a team in Salmon Arm's annual Coldest Night of the Year.
Saturday Feb. 22 will mark the fifth year the local event has been hosted by the Shuswap Food Action Society (SFAS), to raise funds and raise awareness about food insecurity. It will also mark the fifth year seven-year old Hillcrest Elementary student Issac Scheidegger has taken part, though this year he'll be doing so as captain of the team Karing Krew.
"I like raising money for cold people who don't have a roof over their head, they don't have food to eat," said Issac in a video shared on the SFAS page on Facebook. "It just helps people in need."
SFAS executive director Liz Blakeway would like to see more youth take part in the fundraiser, which supports SFAS projects including its school meals program.
"SFAS feeds a lot of kids in our region through school meals programming, with over 45,000 meals to students last year alone. It would be so great to see many of these kids and their families walk with us this year and enjoy the pre and post-walk fun!" said Blakeway in an SFAS media release.
The Feb. 22 event begins with a Walk Party opening at 4 p.m. at the downtown Salmon Arm SASCU parking lot. At 5 p.m., registered participants take part in one of two guided walks, with a two- or five-kilometre route that conclude outside the downtown Askew's Foods where a post-walk street party with be held with hot soup, treats and beverages.
SFAS is a registered charity working to strengthen local food systems and raise awareness around food security. Projects include multiple school meal programs, the Shuswap Teaching Garden & John McLeod Community Garden, the Downtown Salmon Arm Farmer鈥檚 Market, local food boxes and Farmer鈥檚 Market coupons for food insecure households. Funds raised help SFAS to continue action-oriented projects aimed at feeding youth and decreasing barriers to
local food access.
鈥淲hile the SFAS slogan is EAT Local, we are strong proponents of SUPPORT Local," said SFAS member and Coldest Night director Melanie Bennett. "The businesses supporting this event are all generous community members who share the responsibility of making our communities successful and a great place to live."
Askew鈥檚 Foods and SASCU return as co-lead sponsors for this year鈥檚 event.
"We have always taken pride in giving back whenever and wherever possible鈥�," commented Askew's general manager Dave Wallace, noting Askew's works with and supports local suppliers. "Being independent and in touch with our communities is a huge benefit. We intend to continue this support (of SFAS) to help ensure the growth and development of local food supply to the benefit of all residents of this region."
SASCU president and CEO Barry Delaney said Coldest Night "serves as a powerful reminder of the need for compassion and support for those who are most vulnerable."
Our involvement goes beyond financial contributions 鈥� we actively engage with our neighbours to ensure that no one has to face these challenges alone," said Delaney. "Together, through the collective efforts of our community, we are helping to create a stronger, more inclusive future for everyone.鈥�
For more information, visit shuswapfood.ca/cnoy. To donate or to register as a participant or team captain, head to www.cnoy.org/salmonarm.
