About River City Vineyard
River City Vineyard is a church and community center in Sarnia, Ontario, serving our city with as many areas of community outreach as possible. Within our building we operate a homeless shelter, emergency food bank, shower program, free store and community garden. Our current homeless shelter houses 25 beds. All of these beds are almost always full. We are in the process of expanding our shelter to accommodate 40 additional beds, including 15 beds for women.
When we started this expansion project over 3 years ago, we severely underestimated the estimated cost. However, that may have been for the best as had we known then what the entire cost would be we likely would not have proceeded! The truth is that even by doing everything as efficiently and effectively as we possibly could, we have invested more than double of the original estimated cost. But, we are finally in the home stretch of being able to open our expansion doors and we are so excited!
The proceeds from this year’s CNOY campaign will be going towards finishing this expansion. These 40 additional beds will target the “harder to house” population so that they also can have a safe place to sleep out of the cold. We believe that it is every individuals basic right to have access to food and shelter, and we are honored to do what we do in our community!
Event Day Details
Save the date - CNOY Day is February 25, 2023!
260 Mitton Street North
Sarnia, ON
N7T 6H8
Schedule
- 4:00 pm: Meet Check-in opens
- 5:00 pm: Move Opening remarks + send-off
- 6:00 pm: Munch Light meal served
- 7:00 pm: Mosey Goodbye + see you in 2024!
Not able to join us in person on CNOY Day? We hope you'll fundraise and walk offsite with friends and family.
Route Details
- Route Distances: Check out the maps below to see where we will be walking.
- Rest stop: Keep an eye out for opportunities to rest and refresh with yummy snacks along the route.
- Signage: All routes will be well-signed with our bold blue CNOY signs.
- Route Support: Route marshals, rest stop hosts, and support vehicle drivers provide support along the route.
- 12 and under walkers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
- No Pets: We love our little furballs like you do, but pets are not permitted at the Coldest Night of the Year except for approved and trained service animals. Read more about our pet policy >
Check-In
- All walkers must check-in personally to participate in the in-person event on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
- Toques! Fundraising walkers who raise $150+ (or $75+ for those under 18) will receive a CNOY toque as a thank you on event day, while supplies last.
Have questions? Visit the FAQ section!
Handling Money
- Credit Card: The Best Option! Simple, secure, automatically tax receipted for gifts of $20+. Visit the Donate page, share your personal page link, or have your donor call the CNOY Head Office.
- Cheques: The Old Faithful - made out to Coldest Night of the Year with your name on the Memo line. Mail them to CNOY Head Office along with your completed pledge form.
- Cash: You have 2 options:
- 1. Login to FundHub, click “Enter $$ and Cheques,” create pledges for your cash donations, pay them off with your personal credit card, and keep the cash. OR...
- 2. Write a cheque (made out to “Coldest Night of the Year”) for the total amount of cash you’ve collected. Mail it to the CNOY Head Office with your completed pledge sheet.
Waivers
All participants must register online and accept the electronic waiver.
- Adults: When you register online, you automatically accept an electronic waiver, which is all that is needed for adults.
- Youth/Children: If you have youth or children under the age of 18 on your team, they will need to submit a waiver from their parent or guardian.
- An online form will be emailed to all parents/guardians in advance of CNOY Day
- Waivers will also be available at check-in on CNOY Day
What to Bring
A few common sense suggestions:
- A cell phone for emergencies (recommended but not required)
- Good waterproof shoes/boots for walking
- Warm coat and mitts/gloves
- Extra snacks if you have allergies or food sensitivities
- A passion for the charity you're walking and fundraising for!