Christine Molenaar, owner of the Circle Theatre and Cool Moose Ice Cream in downtown Alliston, carries her appreciation and passion for her community to its most vulnerable members.
She is Director of Fundraising for Alliston Out of the Cold (AOTC) and is campaigning for sponsorship on behalf of the local homeless shelter through the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) walk, Feb. 22.
It is the first year AOTC has participated in this national fundraising event for charities facilitated by Blue Sea Foundation.
Molenaar says, “This specific walk is to benefit not-for-profits such as ours that deal with homelessness and emergency living situations.”
The Alliston walk is headquartered at Banting Memorial High School, 203 Victoria St. East. Registration for mapped walks of 2km, 5km, or 10km begins at 4 p.m. Walkers return fundraising results at the end and a warm meal is provided.
Circle Theatre has a team and welcomes others to join or create their own through the CNOY website.
“It’s really great I get to use my business, which I am passionate about, as a platform to help with this social justice cause I am also passionate about,” says Molenaar.
“I’d love to have people come out to walk and show their physical support. It has such an impact to have a massive body of people walking in support of this issue and raising awareness.”
By walking together humbly in the cold, participants have a small experience of what it might be like to be homeless and an opportunity to show compassion to those in need.
Molenaar has been involved with Out of the Cold, 41 Paris St. in Alliston, since its inception three years ago. The shelter is entirely community supported.
Molenaar says, “So far, we have received no grants to run the shelter. We are entering into our third season and we have done it solely on the financial support of the community.”
She continues, “That’s why the upcoming walk is so important. As the needs grow, as the shelter grows, and we are recognizing what’s happening in our town we want to be here long term. We want homelessness to end, and we want systems in place so people don’t end up homeless.”
AOTC provides “safe, respectful welcoming overnight accommodation and meals to the homeless in New Tecumseth & surrounding areas: facilitating connection to further services, resources and community”.
Its 12 bed facility is open seven days a week from Nov. 1 to April 3o. It is usually at capacity or close to capacity each night.
The demographics of the guests vary. Some stay just one night, some much longer depending on need. A handful are employed and not able to secure housing in the community because it’s not affordable or attainable. The majority of guests label New Tecumseth as their home.
AOTC offers guests connections to other social agencies that may help in particular situations. It hopes to purchase an outreach van to offer food, supplies, and transportation to people at risk in the larger rural community.
AOTC initiated a daily dinner program that is open to anyone. Molenaar says, “This prevents people who are in a situation where they need to choose between buying groceries or paying rent from becoming homeless.”
Out of the Cold has ongoing costs including social workers, groceries, and heating and maintenance of the building. Donations of cash allow a need to be met and helps as AOTC expands its programming and examines how best to prevent homelessness.
To help or access services click here.
