It appears Burnaby's annual fundraising stroll through Metrotown to raise homelessness awareness has broken another record.
Nearly $111,000 was collected from Coldest Night of the Year 2024, which took place Feb. 24 at Marlborough Elementary (6060 Marlborough Ave.).
A total of 415 people and 44 teams walked to and from the school on either 2 or 5 km routes, according to the Burnaby page of the campaign's website.
The fundraising bar was set at $115,000 for the eighth annual walk in hopes of beating the local $110,000 record set in 2023.
The money, earmarked for Burnaby Community Services and the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby, is set to provide fresh food for the Tuesday Community Food Hub, essential services via its outreach resource centre, hot showers with the mobile shower program and shelter space during extreme weather events.
"Last year, our team provided support over 130,000 times to people in need," the Coldest Night Burnaby website stated.
"In addition, we have developed new innovative approaches to breaking the cycles of poverty and isolation, continuously helping make Burnaby a better place to live, work, and play."
In 2022, the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby served 698 individuals through more than 8,000 visits to its Outreach Resource Centre. It now serves 150 per cent more people weekly than at the beginning of the pandemic.
A group of 16 people from Deer Lake United Church, captained by Pam Athey, that brought in the most funds this year at nearly $12,200.
Tom Morton, of Burnabytes, raised the most funds individually at nearly $2,700.
For more information, you can visit Coldest Night of the Year's website.
