Hundreds of Lynchburg residents attended the fourth annual Coldest Night of the Year event Feb. 22 from 4-7 p.m., which was put on by Miriam’s House to raise money to end homelessness in the community.
Participants walked along Rivermont Avenue on either a 2K route to Randolph College or a 5K path to the Oakwood Country Club. Walkers could register for the event individually or in groups, with each member raising their own donations to contribute to their team’s grand total. The event surpassed its fundraising goal with a grand total of $63,000 in donations.
Miriam’s House Executive Director Sarah Quarantotto said their Coldest Night of the Year event is unique from the House’s other two main events throughout the year due to the fact that walkers and volunteers can sign up all the way until the event starts.
“I love the feeling of the community coming together in a really meaningful way to help others that they may never meet, but they are driven by the belief that every person should have the dignity and safety of a home,” Quarantotto said. “The work to end homelessness is hard and overwhelming, but nights like the Coldest Night remind me and my team that we are not alone.”
The Coldest Night of the Year also included a charity raffle with prizes provided by various donors. This year, 36 teams participated, with an overall total of 366 walkers; team FreezeFrame’s 28 members rose to the top of the group leaderboard for raising $8,390.
Miriam’s House began supporting Lynchburg’s homeless community in 1994, serving as a refuge for displaced families with children, young people and those experiencing chronic homelessness. This work is done in continuous partnership with other non-profit organizations in the area.
Madeline Foster was the highest individual fundraiser for the Foster Fuels team, garnering over $1,000 to add to her team’s total. She addressed the crowd prior to the walk and shared her heart behind Miriam’s House mission.
“I’m super excited to raise money and walk for Miriam’s House because I really care about people helping people who don’t have a home and are going through a tough time,” Foster said. “My parents have always taught me how important it is, and I’m really grateful for that. A huge thank you to everyone who made this event happen. I can’t wait to walk with you all.”
First-time Miriam’s House volunteer Alison Ryder said that her newfound faith is what encourages her to consistently step out of her comfort zone and connect with the community. She helped support the event by cheering on the walkers at the finish line with bubbles and blue and yellow poms-poms in hand.
“It has been such an awesome experience and the community is just awesome,” Ryder said. “Honestly, this has been the most upbeat event I’ve been to. Not a lot of people want to jump around and cheer but that’s just something I want to do. I just want to be a warm hug for everybody.”
Hagen is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion.