The Mustard Seed in Red Deer saw growth on all fronts in its second year holding the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser.

A year ago, 95 people participated in the walk, compared to 170 that showed up on Saturday. As well, the event saw 10 local businesses step forward as sponsors.

It helped the charity surpass its fundraising goal, with more than $27,000 generated for programs like providing meals and offering the services of a wellness advocate.

With the walk itself, the Seed’s managing director Byron Bradley said the routes snaked along the Red Deer River, passing by several agencies that care for the city’s poor.

“Like Hope Mission, it goes down past Potter’s Hands, down to Turning Point, and some other great organizations that care for people day in and day out. On average, people can walk 20-50 km a day when they have nowhere to go, they don’t have a fixed address,” Bradley said.

Bradley found the conditions mild compared to past years, opting for a hoodie instead of a parka.

“We’re very fortunate that it’s really mild today but our folks, some of them stuff newspapers down their pants just to keep warm,” he said.

Barbie Bradley (no relation to Byron Bradley), was one of the walkers that day, participating with the top fundraising team, For Impact, which raised $3,365.

She was with her family and said it was a good chance to make her kids aware of poverty.

“It’s a way to have a conversation with them, that not everybody has a warm house and not everybody can just do whatever they want,” she said.

“Waking up and having a choice of what to have for breakfast or what to wear, it’s important to talk about that when you’re young because it’s so easy to take those things for granted.”

The Mustard Seed feeds up to 380 students at schools across Red Deer each day.

It also serves dinners three days a week to people of all ages.

Last year, the charity provided more than 70,000 meals.