The Warm Hearts: Jacket Repair Project is happening again this year.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council (SWRC) and sponsored by Affinity Credit Union, has the goal of mending donated winter jackets to be re-used, rather than ending up in a landfill.
People are asked to donate their repairable jackets at pre-determined locations in their respective cities, with drop-off points available in Moose Jaw, Regina, and Saskatoon.
The jackets are then repaired by volunteers, with repairs ranging from sewing up torn pockets to replacing zippers.
The drop off location in Moose Jaw for a third year is The Wandering Market (461 Athabasca St. E), open for the donations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Owner of The Wandering Market, Nadine Lee, spoke about why they continue to take in the jackets for mending. “We’ve had a really good response with the project, and it’s been something that we’ve been able to easily facilitate.”
“We can see that it makes a big difference in the community, too, so we do want to be able to give back and do what we can for the community.”
Over 100 jackets were donated to the Moose Jaw drop-off location to be repaired and given to those in need last year.
Lee said that she will also take in jackets for donation that don’t need to be fixed for donation to local organizations.
While The Wandering Market gets a lot of credit for the project, Lee insisted that they’re just a drop off spot. “The credit really goes to the organizations that the jackets are going to, because they’re the ones that are working directly with people, and also to the volunteers that are coming and picking up the jackets and fixing them.”
“A lot of them are putting in their own materials, too, like buying zippers and things like that.”
Local organizations that take charge of handing out the donated jackets include the Moose Jaw Transition House, Moose Jaw Newcomer Welcome Centre, and a number of churches. Lee said that she has also given jackets to people who have come into The Wandering Market to warm up.
Lee said this year she’s planning on reaching out to other places that might be able to use the jackets, such as schools.
If you’re able to repair the jackets or transport them within the city, the SWRC would like to hear from you. They have a volunteer form on their website here.
Learn more about the project on the SWRC website here.