The Okotoks United Church is hosting its Jacket Racket campaign again this year.
For over 20 years, the United Church has been collecting winter clothing for those in the area who could use a little help staying warm.
"Every year, the community comes together and helps us collect winter clothing," explains Karen Pryznyk, who is one of the co-coordinators of Jacket Racket. "We have multiple business partners, and we also partner with St. Vincent De Paul, which is the Catholic charity that the Catholic students run out of their schools. They are a big part of the program, too, because they just bring in tons of jackets and boots and all those kinds of things from the Catholic School system. They're always very generous."
They are also partnered with the DeWinton United Church.
The business partners that will help to collect winter clothing are:
- Sobeys
- Okotoks Public Library
- Foothills Cleaners
- Better Than Home Laundry
- Save-on-Foods
- Viking Rentals Centre
- Main Street Market & More
- Okotoks Fire Hall (Milligan Drive)
"They've all got a bin and they're starting to collect coats and boots and hats and scarves and things like that. Then, our volunteers go around, pick them up, bring them to the church, and we sort through them, make sure they are in good shape and then we start hanging them up. Later in October we'll open our doors."
People can also drop clothing off directly at the Okotoks United Church.
They will be collecting clothes until October 19, which will give the Church enough time to go through the clothes and sort them.
Once the clothing is sorted, the church will allow people to come and "shop" for clothing on several different days.
They will be open on Tuesday, October 15 and 22, as well as Thursday, October 17 and 24 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 19 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The clothes from the Jacket Racket are completely free.
In previous years, they have helped out roughly 300 people with winter clothing.
On top of trying to help keep people warm, they are hoping to help keep clothing from ending up in the dump.
If anyone wants to volunteer with the Jacket Racket, reach out to the Okotoks United Church.
To learn more about jacket Racket, click here.