Even though the Jacket Racket event will look a bit different this year, it'll still provide warm winter clothes for Cochrane residents who need it most. 

The annual event has provided countless kids and adults with warm winter-gear for the last 16-years.

Wendy Farnsworth, Community Support Worker with FCSS says they're still in need of donations. 

You can drop off your donation at the FCSS building, the Family Resource Network, the Boys & Girls Club of Cochrane, the Cochrane Alliance Church, the RancheHouse or Safeway.

"We're looking for donations of clean and gently-used winter clothing and it can be dropped off at any of these sites before Oct. 19."

Farnsworth says they need "Jackets, coats, hats, scarves, mitts, gloves, snowsuits, boots. We really need a lot of winter wear for youth and children, so we get excited when people donate that."

They help adults stay warm too, so they also accept winter wear for adults.

She says because they hold the event before Halloween, it's a great time to donate a costume as well. 

"We also collect Halloween costumes because our event lands before Halloween and that's really been a fun addition to the Jacket Racket."

Farnsworth says it's such an important event for so many Cochranites. 

"It's been going on for awhile and we've had the opportunity to survey people and the feedback that we get has been really heartfelt. We get comments, like 'oh this was awesome, thanks for the event, we'll be back next year, this has really helped our family', and it really helps to motivate us and keep us going."

"The people that appreciate getting free clothing are sometimes newcomers who are going through their very first winter here and so these winter items can really help them be prepared."

The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Cochrane Alliance Church.

She says you don't need to pre-register to come. 

"All they have to do is show up. There's no prerequisite, this is open to absolutely anybody that lives in Cochrane and the surrounding rural area."  

Organizers are providing hand sanitizer and masks for anyone who doesn't have one when they show up. 

They are limiting the attendance to 30 people in the building at one time, and Farnsworth says even though they can't serve food and beverages this year, they will be handing out goodie bags.