Being part of a community is about feeling like you belong to something bigger than yourself. It’s about showing up for one another, demonstrating care, and living out shared values. In a strong community, people come together to face challenges.
In Orillia, the community shows a spirit of compassion every day. At The Lighthouse, we regularly see the ways the community supports one another, including people who are vulnerable, and responds with generosity and empathy when people experiencing homelessness are struggling. One example of this collective care is the annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk.
On Feb. 28, more than 550 people gathered in Orillia to walk and raise awareness about homelessness in our community. The night lived up to its name; it was cold. That reality served as a powerful reminder of why the walk matters. Even with the warming centre serving 20 people each night in addition to the 78 individuals staying at The Lighthouse at 75 Queen St. E., for some people in our community, cold winter nights outside are not symbolic; they are a real experience with significant implications. As winter slowly gives way to spring and the snow begins to melt, the challenges of homelessness remain.
Homelessness is often described as a series of losses. It’s the loss of housing, stability, income, connection and, sometimes, hope. Living through these losses can be discouraging and isolating, but events like Coldest Night of the Year offer something powerful: hope.
When hundreds of people step outside on a cold night to walk together, they send a clear message that people care. They care about their neighbours, about dignity, and about building a future where people experiencing homelessness are not alone.
The Lighthouse works 365 days per year to make that vision a reality. Homelessness doesn’t take a break, and neither can the services that respond to it.
As a non-profit and charitable organization, The Lighthouse fundraises approximately 30 per cent of its annual operating budget to sustain its work. These funds help support the 12 programs the organization facilitates. From emergency shelter to supportive housing and outreach services, every dollar raised helps ensure services remain available in our community.
The Lighthouse offers a variety of services that support the well-being of our community, including:
- Emergency shelter (adult)
- Emergency shelter (youth)
- Supportive housing
- Outreach (adult)
- Outreach (youth)
- Spiritual support
- Mental health service
- Medical clinic
- Warming centre
- Shelter food services
- Community meal program
Together, these programs help individuals move toward housing, well-being and connection.
The need in our community for these types of services is significant. In 2025, The Lighthouse emergency shelter served 379 individuals and the warming centre served 313 people, each facing unique challenges and circumstances. Outreach teams worked in the community, connecting with people 8,202 times to offer support and resources.
Behind each number is a story, a person navigating one of the most challenging seasons of their life. This is why community involvement matters so much. When our community walks, donates, volunteers or advocates, it helps ensure support remains available.
Events like Coldest Night of the Year remind us addressing homelessness takes all of us. It’s a community effort. In Orillia, our community continues to show compassion and generosity can come together to make a meaningful difference. Every person deserves the dignity of housing and the connection of community.