Moose Jaw Family Services will host its annual fall clothing giveaway September 25th and 26th, offering free clothing and household items to community members preparing for the winter season.
Tara Jones, executive director at Moose Jaw Family Services, said the two-day event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at their facility at 200 Main Street South.
"We just set our boardroom up as a quote-unquote 'store' and open up the doors and people can come and take what they need," Jones said. "We really encourage people to take what they need and make sure they leave what they don't need so that other people can have access to it."
The giveaway operates on an honour system with no registration required. Participants can browse available items and select what they need without providing personal information.
Jones said the initiative began over two years ago when the organization accumulated excess donations and needed to clear storage space. The program now operates twice annually — once in spring and again in fall.
"People generously donate stuff to us all the time. We try to discourage it because we don't have a lot of space. But, as we get close to our giveaway, we are so happy to have people bring clothing," Jones said.
The organization particularly welcomes donations of winter gear including coats and boots, men's clothing, and clothing for preteen boys, which Jones said are consistently in high demand.
"Things that we know that we always are going to need are winter gear — coats, boots, that kind of stuff. Men's clothing, we always have less men's clothing," she said. "Those preteen boys are hard to clothe. I think they are harder on their clothes in general."
Donations are being accepted weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. leading up to the giveaway. Due to Manitoba Street construction, visitors should access the building via the Fourth Avenue Bridge.
Jones said the program serves diverse community members including families, students, and individuals seeking seasonal clothing upgrades.
"We have families coming in. We have single people come in; we have students come in. Just anyone that needs stuff for the new season, especially with kids just the way they grow."
The giveaway addresses rising cost-of-living pressures by providing free access to essential clothing items.
"We know that the cost of things has really got out of control. So, this is just a way for us to make sure people have what they need," Jones said.
The clothing inventory ranges from infant to adult sizes, accommodating community members "zero to 99" years old.
For information about donations or the clothing giveaway, contact Moose Jaw Family Services at contact@mjfamilyservices.ca. If you'd like to help in another way, e-transfers can be sent to donations@mjfamilyservices.ca.