"Coldest Night" In Doylestown Warms The Heart, Benefits The Homeless

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — It may not have been the coldest night of the year, but it was cold nonetheless.

With temperatures hovering around 30 degrees, more than 200 bundled-up Bucks Countians took to the streets of Doylestown Borough Saturday night to raise funds for the homeless during the first ever “Coldest Night” fundraising walk.

It was also the first time that the Bucks County Opportunity Council, the Bucks County Housing Group and the YWCA of Bucks County teamed up to organize a joint fundraising event.

The whole idea behind the “Coldest Night” is to give participants a feel for what it’s like to be homeless and out on the streets with no place to go on the "Coldest Night" of the year.

The Coldest Night walk steps off from the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown.

“This is to give people a sense of what the homeless population has to go through on a daily basis. Not only do they have to deal with the elements, they don’t have food and shelter,” said Erik Clare, executive director of the Bucks County Housing Group.

Unlike the homeless, who have no place to go, Clare said participants taking part in Saturday’s walk got to sit down to some hot soup and warm food inside the James Lorah House following the walk.

“That really brings it home when everyone feels the impact of what that’s like after only an hour out in the cold where the homeless are out all the time,” he said.

Kristin Chapin, the associate director of the Bucks County YWCA, said it was heartwarming to see how many people came out to support the individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, not only in Bucks County but all over the country.

“This gives folks an opportunity to walk around in some pretty chilly weather and to get a small sample of what it might be like to live on the street,” she added.

The money raised from the event will be split between the Bucks County Opportunity Council, the Bucks County Housing Group and the YWCA of Bucks County and will be used to directly help the county’s homeless by providing them with food, shelter and other services.

From left: Erik Clare, executive director of the Bucks County Housing Group; Kristin Chapin, associate director of the Bucks County YWCA; Guillaume Stewart, executive director of the YWCA of Bucks County; and Erin Lukoss, executive director of the Bucks County Opportunity Council.

“The response from the community has been incredible,” said Erin Lukoss, the executive director of the Bucks County Opportunity Council. “They have helped us surpass our goal of raising $20,000. That’s going to allow us to care for the people who are struggling."

A public count last year showed 427 homeless living on the streets of county. This year’s count, which took place at the end of January, is still being tabulated, but the number is expected to be higher.

“A lot of things have changed from last year. In 2022 there was an eviction moratorium and people were staying put,” said Lukoss.

(photo by Jeff Werner)

The Coldest Night began in Canada, where temperatures often fall well below zero, and has now migrated south of the border into the U.S.

Similar walks are also taking place in six other communities across Pennsylvania for the first time this year, said Lukoss.

Fundraising for the Coldest Night continues through the end of March. Donations can be made online through the Bucks County YWCA, the Bucks County Housing Group and the Bucks County Opportunity Council.

"We all work together from a programmatic standpoint so to be able to fund raise together has been a lot of fun,” said Clare. “I shouldn’t be surprised that it had this kind of outcome knowing how we work together. It really is heartwarming to see the community come out and support neighbors that need help.”

The event was supported by Penn Community Bank, Red Robin, Wegman's and the Mercy Coffee Truck.