Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society’s (RWSS) 2025 Coldest Night of the Year saw a rise in pledges, donations and support in the final week leading up to the Feb. 22 event. From solo walkers and community teams to a host of new monetary sponsors, Revelstoke showed up for RWSS right up to when it was time to head out for the walk.
“That support is really staying in the community,” Lynn Loeppky, RWSS’ executive director told Revelstoke Mountaineer. The support comes at a time when RWSS has seen an increase of over 30 per cent in folks accessing the Forsythe House and other resources, including school programming currently offered in Arrow Heights Elementary and Columbia Park Elementary, free self-referral counseling sessions and the Moving Forward transition support program.
Between event sponsors like BC Housing, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Velocity Plumbing and Heating and business teams like Parks Canada, Revelstoke Credit Union and Revelstoke Library, support for the event continues to grow. That was even more apparent by the increased number of walkers, teams and volunteers that came out.
“We had little ones right up to seniors taking part in all sorts of things,” Loeppky said, noting that 29 volunteers came out to help put up signs, direct and lead the walk, set up the community meal afterwards and more.
The walk and following community meal provided space for participants to connect and chat, highlighting RWSS’ goal of creating healthier communities, Loeppky shared.
“People were just happy to come in and sit at the tables afterwards and mingle with one another.”
From $5 solo walker donations to over $3,280 team donations, it all added up to over $20,400 raised as of Tuesday, Feb. 25, with on-site donations, last-minute cheques and other donations still being tallied. RWSS won’t know until April if they reached their $35,000 goal, but Loeppky encourages those who missed out on the fun to still donate if they can.
The Coldest Night of the Year 2025 website portal for RWSS will remain open to donations until Monday, March 31. Those wanting to monetarily donate directly to RWSS or who may have items on the shelter’s wish list can donate directly through RWSS’ website or contact the shelter to organize a donation drop-off.
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