Start Me Up Niagara/Coldest Night of the Year
This beloved Niagara charity runs the Coldest Night of the Year Walk in St. Catharines
For over 25 years, Start Me Up Niagara has been a steady presence for people facing poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and barriers to employment in the Niagara Region. Each year, thousands of individuals turn to the organization for food, clothing, health supports, and opportunities to regain stability and dignity.
Start Me Up Niagara meets people where they are—removing barriers, supporting system navigation, and providing real pathways toward independence. Its programs and services are designed for individuals facing significant life challenges, offering opportunities to stabilize, participate, and grow.
With the goal of increasing self-sufficiency and improving quality of life, Start Me Up Niagara delivers a wide range of supports and programs. These include a daily drop-in resource centre, food security programs, community meals, health care, and the Income Matters program, which provides tax filing services for low-income individuals, as well as housing referrals and employment development.
In addition, Bike Me Up Niagara and Niagara’s Mobile Closet provide practical, dignity-focused supports by offering bicycles for active transportation, barrier-free shopping events with seasonal clothing and hygiene items, and crisis clothing through 30 mini-closets located across the Niagara Region.