It’s October, and there’s no denying — no matter how hard you try — that frigid temperatures are just around the corner.
This fall, Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is back with their Jacket Racket event, ensuring all Cochrane area residents have the opportunity to fight the cold weather with appropriate winter wear.
Cochrane and area residents are invited to drop off their gently used winter wear at three locations in Cochrane: Safeway, the Cochrane Alliance Church and the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area.
Clothing can be dropped off between Oct. 10 and Oct. 24.
Besides jackets, organizers will accept donations of mittens, gloves, hats, snowpants, among other cold weather clothing items. All sizes of winter wear is needed.
“This is a universal event,” said Annemarie Tocher, the coordinator of community resources for FCSS. “Primarily, the event is an opportunity for people who are facing financial challenges to acquire winter wear to keep them and their family warm over the cold months.”
Tocher said the event typically draws somewhere in the area of 250-300 jacket hunters.
In the past, the initiative has acquired up to about 500 pieces of clothing.
“There’s a significant turnout — which indicates a huge need in the community,” she said.
Any excess clothing will be donated to other organizations that identify a need. In the past, Tocher said the leftover jackets have been taken to the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre.
In addition, the winter-clothing event will provide an opportunity for Cochrane residents to recycle their gently used outerwear.
And those who drop of clothing donations will have the chance to peruse the winter wear for their own families, said Tocher.
“We’re living in a community that is trying to establish itself as not being wasteful,” she said. “This is yet another initiative that can help us cut down on our consumption.”
Jacket Racket is set to run Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cochrane Alliance Church. It will run in conjunction with the Parent Link Centre’s Family Celebration, which will offer refreshments and children’s activities to event attendees.
For additional information, contact FCSS at 403-851-2250.
