Scarves, mitts and hats were the fashion statement on Saturday evening as about 200 people took part in the Coldest Night of the Year walk for Youth Haven in Barrie.
The 2-km and 5-km walk, which began and ended at the City Hall rotunda, raised over $60,000 to support programs and services offered by Youth Haven for people ages 16 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
"CNOY is an opportunity for our community to unite and support our youth. It does provide them with an idea of what youth experience when they are out in the cold and have nowhere to go, " said Youth Haven executive director Lucy Gowers. "The community support is always generous and incredible, and it is a message to youth that people do care."
One of those kids is 19-year-old Nethan, who has been at Youth Haven for two years in emergency care and is now in the transitional program.
"Youth Haven has amazing services for us. The emergency shelter has a lot of support in housing and employment, and the transitional program offers even more support."
Nethan said when he came to Youth Haven he was not in a good spot.
"The family dynamic was not the best, but as soon as I came to Youth Haven I learned more or less that it's safer to be myself than it is to just hide and not be myself. Right now, I have a bunch of small goals that I try to get to every day."
Nethan was at the CNOY event, volunteering with 17-year-old Jon, who spent several months in Youth Haven's emergency shelter before moving to the transitional program.
"I am in Grade 12 and on my way to college for engineering," Jon explained when asked about his current situation.
Jon came to Youth Haven when he was 16 and found at first it was tough to talk about what he had been through with his family but he opened up once he began to put his trust in the organization.
"I started to become better and improve."
Jon understands it might be hard for some people to believe, including those his age, that kids can be homeless.
"In my case, I don't have any family at all. If you are a kid out there and you are with your mom and dad, just give them a hug."
