If you have some extra warm winter wear kicking around, you may want to donate to the Jacket Racket.

Cochrane's Family Community Support Services (FCSS) want to keep everyone warm this winter and Jacket Racket will provide that opportunity.

Annemarie Tocher, FCSS, Resource Centre Coordinator, says Jacket Racket came out of community need.

"We do have folks in town who live on fixed incomes or lower incomes who have children. We know kids grow quickly and often need new winter wear every year, but often times adults do as well."

The program has grown over the years and is only possible due to community donations.

"We encourage people to provide gently used and clean winter wear. We take all sizes, children to adult sizes; we are often finding we are short with children's items, that is usually a concern for us each year."

Tocher says they accept everything from jackets, snow pants, mitts, boots, scarves, hats, and to add to the fun will accept Halloween costumes as well.

Donations can be dropped off at bins located at Safeway, Boys and Girls Club, Parent Link Centre, Cochrane Early Learning Childcare Centre, and FCSS the week of October 13-27.

The Jacket Racket exchange will be held at Bow Valley Church on October 29 from 10 am -12 pm, and  there is no need to register.

"We try to set it up like a shopping experience, the Parent Link Centre is there and provide some children's activities, the last couple of years we have had a DJ, we try to make it a fun experience, we usually have snack and drink there for folks as well."

Tocher says they have helped keep well over 200 people warm in the past year.