Algoma Anglicans Walk Together for Grace Place
“Grace Place has been involved for fourteen years,” says the Rev. Nancy Ringham. “They’ve had a walk for thirteen of those years.”
Each winter, communities across Canada take part in Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) — a national fundraising walk supporting local ministries that serve people experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, and social isolation. In Thunder Bay, those efforts support Grace Place, a storefront street ministry rooted in presence, hospitality, and long-term relationship.
“This is a small street ministry that has grown like crazy,” Nancy says. “And the community really stands behind it.”
This year’s walk carries particular significance. “If they make their goal this year — and they’ve made their goal every year — they’ll have raised over one million dollars through Coldest Night of the Year.”
Nancy leads a team known as the Frozen Chosen, made up largely of Anglicans from across Thunder Bay, including Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Saint Michael and All Angels, the Gathering Table, and West Thunder Bay. Support for Grace Place extends well beyond Anglican circles. “There are people from the Baptist church and other churches in town who also volunteer for Grace Place,” Nancy notes, pointing to the wide network of care that has formed around the ministry.
Grace Place serves people experiencing homelessness, addiction, poverty, and social marginalization, offering food, hospitality, pastoral care, and a consistent, compassionate presence. Funds raised through Coldest Night of the Year support the ministry’s core operations and its participation in Thunder Bay’s Out of the Cold program during the most dangerous winter months.
“There are nights when they don’t even have enough beds,” Nancy says. “They’ll use chairs if they have to — but they make sure people are inside.”
This year, the Frozen Chosen have already surpassed their goal of $5,000 — a sign of the strong support surrounding the ministry. But for Nancy, Coldest Night of the Year is about more than fundraising. “As people get involved, they learn what Grace Place provides and what some of the community needs are,” she says. “There’s a place for everybody to be involved.”
Supporters across the Diocese of Algoma are invited to contribute directly to the Frozen Chosen team in support of Grace Place as the February 28 walk approaches.
🔗 Donate to the Frozen Chosen: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/donate.aspx?eventid=392862&teamID=1037150
Walking Together Across Algoma
Coldest Night of the Year teams are also raising funds in several communities across the Diocese of Algoma. You can support a local ministry near you:
👉 Sault Ste. Marie — St. Vincent Place https://cnoy.org/location/saultstemarie
👉 North Bay — The Gathering Place https://cnoy.org/location/northbay
👉 Sudbury — The Samaritan Centre https://cnoy.org/location/sudbury
👉 Huntsville — The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation https://cnoy.org/location/huntsville
Whether by walking, donating, or sharing the story, Anglicans across Algoma are helping ensure that neighbours facing the coldest nights of the year are met with warmth, dignity, and hope.