A young girl slips on a bright purple winter coat. Her smile rewards the volunteers. Moments like these have kept the Jacket Racket at the Okotoks United Church going for more than two decades.
“We’ve had tears from that,” shares Karen Pryznyk, the church board chair and key organizer of the Jacket Racket. “Somebody has come in and just been told, go ahead and get what you need for you and your family.”
Dozens of volunteers gather yearly to offer free winter clothing to community members bracing for the cold season. The event provides six opportunities for locals to get winter gear, with around 20 volunteers helping up to 300 people. Some of Pryznyk’s most touching memories with the community involve newcomers to Okotoks experiencing their first winter.
“A couple of years ago, it was the Ukrainian immigrants, which was just a really neat thing to be able to help out with,” Pryznyk recalls. The event has also fostered a beautiful cycle of generosity, with past recipients returning to give back.
“This year we have received a coat that we just noticed happened to be made in Ukraine. So we’re pretty sure that somebody who may have benefited in the past is now giving back to Jacket Racket,” she said.
The program provides a practical way for people to exchange gently used winter clothing. It serves everyone in the community, from those in financial need to busy parents needing new gear for their growing children.
Each October, the church’s planning team prepares for the event, setting dates, planning promotions, and recruiting volunteers for its six-night run.
Before doors open, volunteers sort through and inspect clothing, ensuring everything is clean and ready for the shoppers.
In addition to supporting the community, the church is committed to sustainability.
“We are a church that is concerned with the environment. A lot of clothes end up in landfills, and so one of the things that we’re trying to do as well is reduce textile waste,” said Pryznyk.
The Okotoks church isn’t alone in its efforts to collect donations. It has partnered with Saint Vincent de Paul and St. Andrews United Church, expanding its reach and making it easier for community members to contribute.
