Harrison Trimble

Youth supporting youth.

A group of Harrison Trimble High School Trojans are walking today in support of Youth Impact.

Around 40 students will do a five-kilometre walk from their high school to Centennial Park and back on Thursday at 4 pm to help teens who are experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness.

“All the funds that we raise stay local and support Youth Impact Jeunesse. They provide safe spaces, housing support, meals, and programs for youth who are struggling with homelessness or difficult life situations. That really touches us. This is such an important organization to raise funds for because they target specifically teens. So people our age who are going through all these struggles,” Trojans in Action Student Leader Olive Martin told our newsroom.

Trojans in Action is a student-led group that focuses on supporting the community.

This is their first time walking for this special cause. The annual Coldest Night of the Year event is scheduled for February 28.

With March break beginning on Saturday, many of the students are going away, and Martin said they are unavailable to do the scheduled walk, so they chose to do it in advance instead.

“If you visit the Coldest Night of the Year website, you can search up HTHS Trojans in Action, and we have a shareable link there. It also has our goal with a tally marker. We’re trying to reach $1,000,” Co-leader Chloe Nash-Leblanc added.

Guest speakers from Youth Impact Jeunesse visited the school to share stories about their organization, which inspired the students to want to help.

“Every little donation, no matter the amount, even a small contribution, will add up quickly and help provide real support to people who need it, especially teens in local areas. Not all teenagers have access to food shelters or homeless shelters. So they don’t have access to food or a place to sleep. They’re on their own, and there are no resources for them. So our goal is to help make that youth impact,” Nash-Leblanc stressed.