The Parkland Food Bank has raised $32,212 for its annual Coldest Night of the Year winter fundraiser in Spruce Grove, Alberta. This milestone, reached on February 6, 2026, marks a massive surge in donations as the community prepares for the Coldest Night of the Year walk on February 28, 2026.
The money will help the food bank buy fresh items like milk, eggs, and vegetables for the more than 2,400 people who use the service every month. These perishable goods are often the most expensive to provide for families in Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, and Parkland County.
More than 100 people have already signed up to walk in the family-friendly event, which includes 2 km and 5 km routes. Walkers who raise $150 or more (or $75 for youth under 18) will receive the event’s signature CNOY winter toque.
According to Sheri Ratsoy, executive director of the Parkland Food Bank Society, the support from the community shows a great deal of care for those in need. Nearly 1,000 of the residents who rely on the food bank each month are children (about 960).
The organization distributes about $240,000 worth of food every month to help local families. Since joining the national Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser in 2017, the community has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through the campaign to keep food bank shelves stocked with fresh food during the coldest months.
