Eleven walkers and counting.
If all goes as Hairstyling Prof. Joe Abbruscato plans, as many as 50 staff and students will join the Niagara College Knight Walkers on a walk through Welland on Saturday, Feb. 26 to raise money for the Coldest Night of the Year campaign.
“It’s such a good event,” Abbruscato said. “The last few years with COVID, it’s a nice way for students to come together and support something.”
That something is a family-friendly walk to raise money for local charities helping those experiencing hunger and homelessness.
In the case of the Niagara College Knight Walkers, all money raised goes to Welland’s Open Arms Mission, a food and personal care bank.
Abbruscato said he hopes to raise $5,000 for the cause this year, his ninth organizing a team for the College.
Some of the Niagara College Knight Walkers from 2021’s Coldest Night of the Year event.
The Knight Walkers started as a staff and student initiative when Abbruscato worked at the former Niagara Falls campus.
“I just felt there was a demand and need to support this. As hairdressers, we support the community a lot and giving back is important,” he said. “As far as taking the lead, if I can show someone how to give back, I’m all for it, especially the last couple of years. There’s a lot of people hurting right now. If we all do something, we’ll make a difference.”
After hosting a virtual walk last year, Coldest Night of the Year returns to an in-person event on Feb. 26, in accordance with pandemic rules for gathering. The five-kilometre route starts and finishes at the Welland Campus.
In addition to recruiting walkers and fundraisers for the team, Abbruscato is also seeking volunteers to be walk marshals.
“There are many ways someone can volunteer if they don’t want to walk,” he said.
Visit Coldest Night of the Year to learn more or join the team.
Those interested in volunteering or who have questions about the event can email Abbruscato or Josh Walsh at Open Arms Mission.
