Successful jacket drive returns after 2 year absence

Dec 8, 2016 | 12:04 AM

After a two-year hiatus, the Gord Slater Annual Jacket Drive & Kid’s Mini Carnival returns to North Battleford this weekend.

The family friendly event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the gym of the Connaught Elementary School in North Battleford.

Event organizer Gord Slater told battlefordsNOW that the idea came to him one evening six years ago when he and a group of musicians performed at a jam session in a local bar.

“I got the idea and put that we were collecting jackets for kids on the posters around town,” Slater said. “At the end of the night we had roughly 400 jackets on a pool table which we donated to the local food bank.”

Slater said he has been overwhelmed with the generosity of the local community.

“In 2013 we donated 1,400 jackets along with 120 brand new jackets to children in need,” he said.

Slater said that he took a few years off from the Jacket Drive because he noticed more organizations were stepping forward and collecting the much needed jackets in the area. However he decided to bring back the event when he saw there was a huge need once again in the community.

The event will feature children’s events such as ring toss, a fish pond and colouring table as well as silent auction and door prizes and a 50/50 draw.

All jackets and donations will be donated to the Battleford’s District Food and Resource Center, the Battleford’s Boys and Girls Club and the Battleford’s Indian Métis Friendship Center.

 

roger.white@jpbg.ca

Twiiter: @BattlefordsNow