Saturday marked the 21st Rock 102 Coats for Kids, an annual event that sees many people in Saskatoon donating many winter items they no longer need.
This event kicked off in 2004 and has since helped many families in the city.
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CKOM Morning Show host Mark Loshack said he believes the number of items that have been donated from the start is well over 5,000.
“We get 1,000 coats a year,” he said. “You get three kids to a family, that’s a lot of kids that are helped throughout the year, I’m looking at probably 10,000 coats and accessories for winter have been donated (in total).”
Loshack said it’s important that children are warm when they head to school in the winter.
“(If) they don’t have the proper winter wear, they’re not going to school, and that’s the whole idea is to make sure that these kids have the proper winter wear …so they’re warm and comfortable”
Anthony Parchoma dropped by to donate a bunch of winter items and said it’s something he does often.
“I’m with Custom Courier and we’re always looking to support local charities and good causes,” he said.
“(I) brought a tub of coats, a box of coats, and a giant garbage bag of coats,” he said. “There’s (also) Huskies toques in there.
“This time of year and with everything the world is right now, we’re just grateful we can be a part of this.”
Shirley Boyer donated her jackets her kids wore in high school.
“I really believe in helping other people,” she said. “Instead of coats being just thrown away I’d rather have them go to people that need them.”
Lisa Helfrick, owner of Mortgage Intelligence, has been a part of Coats for Kids for the last five years.
“Seeing the children out there that don’t go to school because they don’t have any winter jackets, tuques, mitts, gloves,” she said. “When Coats for Kids came knocking on my door, I said most definitely I want to be a part of that.”
Helfrick said it’s so wonderful to see how Saskatoon comes together to help out when it’s really needed.
“It is so amazing to see people drive through here dropping off coats (or) anything that they’ve had that their kids have outgrown,” she said. “That they’re passing this stuff on to other people, that is one of the best feelings ever.”
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