Temperatures are starting to drop in Saskatoon and that means many are breaking out their winter jackets, but some families don’t have that luxury.

Rock 102 jackets for children This initiative aims to ease the pain of families in need. All items collected and funds raised will be donated to Caring and Sharing Saskatoon.

In 2024, more than 500 jackets have been donated.

Miranda Braithwaite donated some of her toddlers’ old jackets.

“I think it’s important that everyone stays warm,” Braithwaite said. “I hope this helps another family who can’t afford coats.”

Braithwaite said seeing all the support the community is showing is very heartwarming.

“I think it’s great, I think we should do this more often,” Braithwaite said.

“A lot of families are struggling right now and I think it’s really great that the community is coming together to help everyone.” »

Ashley Turner got a little help from her daughter’s cheerleading squad before donate your winter clothes.

“It was an idea that another mom on the team had,” Turner said. “All the girls really bought into it, I was really impressed with the amount of clothes we were able to get.”

Turner said the campaign was a good cause and she was happy to be able to help.

“We face a lot of challenges in our city, maybe people needing warm coats,” Turner said.

“It’s going to be minus 40 here real soon, so (we thought) let’s get these kids ready for winter.”

Turner said she was really proud of the families who stepped up to help.

“People are very generous,” Turner said. “It fills me with pride that everyone is so generous.”

Rock 102 on-air personality and CKOM morning show host Mark Loshack (“Shack”) said the show has continued to grow over the years.

“We have donated thousands and thousands of coats and winter clothes every year” said Shack, adding that he believed the campaign was one of the city’s most important initiatives.

“If you were a kid and you didn’t have a winter coat or winter boots, would you go to school in the middle of a minus 40 day? » he asked.

“You wouldn’t go to school. You would stay home where it’s nice and warm and watch TV. Well, we don’t want that. We want children to go to school and learn.

As for seeing the community come together, Shack said it’s one of the coolest things ever.

“You see a little kid who has outgrown their coat, and to see that kid donate to another kid, it’s really heartwarming,” he said.

Other items such as winter boots, gloves, scarves and hats were also donated during the drive.

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