(Supplied)

By Ian Gustafson

Record amount

Coldest Night of the Year raises a record $92K in Red Deer

Mar 4, 2025 | 1:07 PM

Organizers for the Coldest Night of the Year in Red Deer are reporting a record year.

With a goal of $70,000 the Mustard Seed Red Deer and the Red Deer Food Bank were able to raise $92,652 that will benefit both organizations.

The Coldest Night of the Year, which took place on Feb. 22, is a walking fundraiser that sees teams of participants walk either two or five kilometres to raise awareness of and empathy for the challenges faced by the local homeless community during the coldest months of the year.

Jonathan Hildebrandt, Community and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator with The Mustard Seed Red Deer, said the event ran smoothly.

“On the day of, everything fell into place like dominoes,” he said. “We put so much effort into the campaign. Getting people who are ambitious and eager leaders as team leads was really what made the event successful.”

No ongoing risk

Red Deer RCMP respond to incident on Cole Street

1h ago

march 10

Open house for Red Deer Public Schools' Fire Academy

5h ago

Held Feb. 25, 2026

Red Deer Polytechnic holds Energy Innovation Fair

7h ago

There was a total of 245 walkers on 56 teams that took part in the event, many of whom were competing to be the top fundraisers. Hildebrandt said one team raised up to $14,000 and another raised $13,000.

With over $92,000 raised, organizers say this was the most they’ve raised at the event in Red Deer. Previously in 2021, they came close to $85,000.

“This is the best year we’ve had and a lot of it has to do with the team work with the Red Deer Food Bank,” he said, adding this is the second year they’ve held the event in partnership with the Food Bank.

The funds will be split evenly between the two organizations and Hildebrandt said he doesn’t know the exact details of what The Mustard Seed will do with their share but it will be utilized by their programs in Red Deer.

The most expensive program is the school lunch program so he anticipates a chunk of the funds will go towards that. On average they make somewhere between 800 to 900 sandwiches for students who need it.

They also do a meal service three times a week for their guests at the shelter in Red Deer.

Trista Mask, business development coordinator with the Red Deer Food Bank, said the Coldest Night of the Year for the Food Bank was amazing.

“We had a larger amount of walkers than we did last year,” she said. “Even though some people didn’t donate, they walked with us which shows there’s people who recognize that we have these organizations and services in Red Deer and support what we’re doing.”

She explained the money will go towards operation costs and into the food hamper program.

“It is an amazing help. I think we walk away with $30,000 to $40,000, which is phenomenal for the Food Bank.”