Residents in Woodstock, Ontario, are being invited to lace up their boots for the annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser scheduled for February 28, 2026. This family-friendly event features walking routes of two, five, and 10 kilometres to raise money for local charities that help people dealing with homelessness and food shortages during the winter months.
Organizers from United Way Oxford and Operation Sharing are looking for more people to sign up as team captains or join existing walking groups. Woodstock has a history of strong support for the event, often leading the country in participation numbers to help fund local services like the Inn Out of the Cold emergency shelter.
The fundraising effort has grown this year to include dedicated walks in Ingersoll and Tillsonburg to ensure that help is available across the county. According to United Way Oxford, all money raised in those specific communities stays there to support local food programs and crisis services for neighbours in need.
Residents who want to help can sign up through the Woodstock event page to start collecting donations from friends and family. The final four weeks of the campaign are considered the most important time for teams to reach their fundraising targets before the walk begins at the end of February.
