Bundled up to shield from the cold, supporters of ToolBox Niagara walked through the streets of Thorold Saturday night.
The walk was part of the 11th annual Coldest Night of the Year, a Canada-wide charity event that aims to raise funds for organizations fighting homelessness.
“The support Niagara-wide is great, but Thorold always comes through,” said James Symons, the founder of ToolBox Niagara. “An old high school friend thought I was doing great work, he came through. The ToolBox team came through, old bosses. We got the City of Thorold: [Mayor] Terry Ugulini and [councillor] Ken Sentance—a great group of people. Thorold never disappoints.”
Symons started ToolBox Niagara five years ago in an effort to help homeless men in the region. Every year, the organization hands out essential goods and warm winter accessories to those in need, and organizes countless other events to benefit people facing homelessness.
With the walk, Team ToolBox raised $1,300. The hefty sum will be donated to Start Me Up Niagara, a St. Catharines-based organization that operates warming centres and other programs that benefit the homeless.
So, after another successful event, what’s next for ToolBox Niagara?
“The sky is the limit,” Symons says. “Wherever the city needs me, I’ll go.”
