Union Gospel Mission is raising money to support its work in Winnipeg by hosting its first-ever Coldest Night of the Year community walk on Saturday evening.

The Coldest Night of the Year happens across Canada. Groups are selected to participate as a way to help organizations raise funds. So far this winter, Union Gospel Mission says 19,300 people across the country have committed to the walk.

This year, Union Gospel Mission (UGM) was selected for the first time to participate.

Pedestrians will join UGM volunteers as they walk from UGM's Prichard Avenue location to the North End of Winnipeg and back.

"The Coldest Night of the Year might end of being the warmest night of the year," Martin Chidwich, the Development Manager at UGM, says.

UGM says they will have a chilli dinner ready for their participants as a "thank you" for their support. Funds raised during the Coldest Night of the Year will go towards helping UGM continue their work in Winnipeg.

"The weather outside is frightful, but UGM is so delightful," chants Chidwick. "If there is no place to go, you should know, UGM is the place to go."

Currently, there are only ten teams of walkers registered, but UGM is prepared for more to join in the next two days. Chidwick hopes that the warm weather on Saturday will attract people to the walk.

For those wanting to register, UGM is asking for it to be done online through the Coldest Night of the Year's website.