
On Saturday, February 20, 142 registered walkers, with the support of more than 1,100 donors, took to the streets of Napanee for the third annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) walk, raising more than $61,000, well beyond this year’s $50,000 goal.
“Our community always stands behind Morningstar,” says Lynda Carney, CNOY’s event chair for the second year in a row, “Even with so many changes to the event due to COVID-19 our walkers just crushed it!”
A rush of images from social media this past Saturday revealed a sea of smiling faces and people wearing colourful toques, their enthusiasm for the event undampened. Teams gathered in COVID-safe bubbles to self-organize walks and routes across Greater Napanee.
Lynda Carney says this year’s event went from one milestone to the next, benefiting from a groundswell of support from local businesses who offered prizes and incentives for the fundraising teams. “On February 8 we had to raise the goal from $30,000 to $50,000,” explains Carney, “and we surpassed our 2020 total of $43,030, on February 14. By February 17, with three more days to go, the $50,000 goal was reached. And by the weekend we were just blown away that we’d gone past $60,000.”
In three years CNOY has raised more than $140,000 in support of Morningstar Relief Mission, enabling the grassroots charity to purchase its building and to help fund the installation of a commercial kitchen. “This outpouring of generosity will do so much to help Morningstar strengthen services to those on the margins,” says Kevin Alkenbrack, Executive Director, “As needs have risen in the community, so has the size of our operation which is now countywide. As we explore new programs, the incredible support of the community brings us that much closer to making them a reality.”
Steve Martin, Morningstar's Board Chair, is particularly grateful to the business community who rallied behind CNOY. “Our business leaders have been so generous during one of the most economically challenging times in modern history,” says Martin, “as a local service provider our task will be to seek new ways to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of people who are hungry, homeless and hurting."
CNOY is a family-friendly walk-a-thon, national in scope but local in impact. Residents in Napanee were joined by nearly 25,000 people, nationwide, and the coast-to-coast effort raised more than $9.3 million in support of charities that serve people in need in communities across Canada. With many donations and sponsorships still being counted, the event has well surpassed its $8 Million goal.
Donations to CNOY will continue to be accepted until March 31. Visit www.morningstarmission.ca for more information or to give online.
Morningstar Mission is particularly grateful to the following event sponsors and local business who helped to make this year’s CNOY such an overwhelming success:
Event Sponsors
Country Butcher Shop
Ryan Satnik – Morgtgage Agent
Jonathan McDonald, Mortgage Intelligence
All-Risks Insurance Brokers Napanee
Business Sponsors
Marie’s Place Music Emporium
Kerr Kreations
Ellena’s
The Good Home Co.
Mamma Mia Pizza
The Spa Company
Napanee Blooms
Lumberjacq
Against the Grain
Milady’s Lace
Carole & Jane Wooden Toys
Touch of Wellness
Critter Comforts
Starlet
“Our community always stands behind Morningstar,” says Lynda Carney, CNOY’s event chair for the second year in a row, “Even with so many changes to the event due to COVID-19 our walkers just crushed it!”
A rush of images from social media this past Saturday revealed a sea of smiling faces and people wearing colourful toques, their enthusiasm for the event undampened. Teams gathered in COVID-safe bubbles to self-organize walks and routes across Greater Napanee.
Lynda Carney says this year’s event went from one milestone to the next, benefiting from a groundswell of support from local businesses who offered prizes and incentives for the fundraising teams. “On February 8 we had to raise the goal from $30,000 to $50,000,” explains Carney, “and we surpassed our 2020 total of $43,030, on February 14. By February 17, with three more days to go, the $50,000 goal was reached. And by the weekend we were just blown away that we’d gone past $60,000.”
In three years CNOY has raised more than $140,000 in support of Morningstar Relief Mission, enabling the grassroots charity to purchase its building and to help fund the installation of a commercial kitchen. “This outpouring of generosity will do so much to help Morningstar strengthen services to those on the margins,” says Kevin Alkenbrack, Executive Director, “As needs have risen in the community, so has the size of our operation which is now countywide. As we explore new programs, the incredible support of the community brings us that much closer to making them a reality.”
Steve Martin, Morningstar's Board Chair, is particularly grateful to the business community who rallied behind CNOY. “Our business leaders have been so generous during one of the most economically challenging times in modern history,” says Martin, “as a local service provider our task will be to seek new ways to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of people who are hungry, homeless and hurting."
CNOY is a family-friendly walk-a-thon, national in scope but local in impact. Residents in Napanee were joined by nearly 25,000 people, nationwide, and the coast-to-coast effort raised more than $9.3 million in support of charities that serve people in need in communities across Canada. With many donations and sponsorships still being counted, the event has well surpassed its $8 Million goal.
Donations to CNOY will continue to be accepted until March 31. Visit www.morningstarmission.ca for more information or to give online.
Morningstar Mission is particularly grateful to the following event sponsors and local business who helped to make this year’s CNOY such an overwhelming success:
Event Sponsors
Country Butcher Shop
Ryan Satnik – Morgtgage Agent
Jonathan McDonald, Mortgage Intelligence
All-Risks Insurance Brokers Napanee
Business Sponsors
Marie’s Place Music Emporium
Kerr Kreations
Ellena’s
The Good Home Co.
Mamma Mia Pizza
The Spa Company
Napanee Blooms
Lumberjacq
Against the Grain
Milady’s Lace
Carole & Jane Wooden Toys
Touch of Wellness
Critter Comforts
Starlet