Hi friends and family,

I wanted to share something very personal and important to me.

This year, I’m participating in The Coldest Night of the Year - a walk to raise awareness for homelessness and hunger in our community. This cause is incredibly close to my heart. My dad experienced homelessness and struggled with addiction for my entire life. Seeing him live on the streets shaped who I am in ways I’m still understanding today. In the last 10 years of his life, I watched him try, like really try, to get clean. During that time, he found purpose in giving back through his work at The Mustard Seed. When he was there, he truly shined. He was completely in his element, connecting with people, helping others, and offering compassion in a way only someone who had lived it could. I had never seen him so present or so proud of himself, and I was incredibly proud of him. He didn’t stop there. He went on to start a weekly street barbecue, showing up consistently to feed people experiencing homelessness. What began small quickly grew. Hundreds of people started showing up, not just for food, but for connection, dignity, and a sense of belonging. Watching him lead that, serve others, and create community was one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever witnessed. While my dad never fully beat his addiction and passed away from an overdose 2.5 years ago, those years showed me who he really was beneath the struggle - someone who wanted his pain to mean something and who believed deeply in giving back. This walk is my way of honouring his story, the people still living it, and the belief that compassion, dignity, and community can make a real difference. If you’re able to support me through a donation or by sharing this fundraiser, it would truly mean so much. And if you’re not in a place to give, even taking a moment to read or share this and hold this cause in your heart is deeply appreciated.

Thank you for always supporting me and for helping bring attention on an issue that so often stays in the shadows.

With love,
Chelsea