Medicine Hat showed up in a big way for one of its most vulnerable communities this past weekend, as the Coldest Night of the Year walk returned to the city after a year-long hiatus and blew past its $20,000 fundraising goal.

The Saturday evening walk brought together 79 walkers, 16 teams, and 29 volunteers who braved the elements to raise funds for The Mustard Seed's local operations. By Monday afternoon, the total had climbed to $21,910, and donations will continue to be accepted through TheSeed.ca/CNOY until the end of March.

That number represents more than double what was raised during the 2024 event, which brought in $10,000 for the Medicine Hat location a sign of growing community investment in addressing homelessness and poverty in the city.

All funds raised stay local, directly supporting The Mustard Seed's shelter services, health and wellness programming, and outreach work on the front lines.

The Mustard Seed is a Christian non-profit that has served individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984, with locations across Alberta and British Columbia offering varying levels of service. In Medicine Hat, the organization plays a critical role in the city's social safety net.

If you missed the walk but still want to contribute, donations are open through the end of March at TheSeed.ca/CNOY.