SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Sixty-four people bundled up and braved -30 C temperatures Saturday night to raise money for some much needed repairs at the Salvation Army shelter kitchen.

Iris Hamlyn, left, Josee Martin and Kimberly Kimmins agree to stand out in the cold for a photograph after returning from their Coldest Night of the Year Walk – a march from the Salvation Army to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and back – which raised $25,000 for the Sally Ann's kitchen on Saturday. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo

Dusty Sauder, the Yellowknife Salvation Army's executive director, said approximately $25,000 was raised in Yellowknife during the Coldest Night of the Year walk - held simultaneously in 100 communities across Canada Saturday.

"We are putting that money toward fixing the shelter kitchen," said Sauder, while waiting for walkers to return to the Salvation Army citadel Saturday night.

"The cleaning area for the dishes down there could stand to be redone and the cupboards there, there's exposed wood." he said. "It isn't where we'd like it to be."

Sauder said he'd just returned from driving laps of the circuit - a loop from Sally Ann headquarters to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and back - and it appeared spirits were high among participants.

"The front walkers were only just heading off toward city hall when I came back," he said. "And it's cold. It's dropped four degrees since the thing started, as the sun goes down. People are keeping warm and only two have been picked up so far."

Kimberly Kimmins, who was among the first walkers to return from out of the cold, dark night, said it's the first time she's participated in the frigid event but she's planning to do it again.

"It's nice to know you're doing something that's going to a good cause," she said.

As of Sunday evening the Salvation Army had raised more than $3 million nationwide, 84 per cent of its goal of $4 million.

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