To celebrate mom this Mother’s Day, Moose Jaw Family Services Inc. (MJFS) will be hosting a free clothing giveaway and Mother’s Day tea event on location this Saturday, May 11 from 1 – 5 p.m.
The afternoon’s event will include a cup of tea and some sweet delicacies, and the kids can partake in several mess-free, guided craft projects to keep them entertained while mom enjoys a break doing some shopping.
“Everybody is invited to the clothing giveaway, and the moms get a little treat when they come,” said Tara Jones, the executive director of MJFS.
Jones described the occasion as “a fun way to just celebrate moms and… (other) female caregivers” this Mother’s Day.
This year’s first giveaway will remain open on Saturday – which is when Mother’s Day falls this year – to accommodate the special occasion, which is a change from past instances of the event.
The upcoming clothing giveaway will also be the third such event offered by MJFS, and the local non-profit plans to consistently hold two of these events each year.
Jones said each consecutive giveaway has trended toward a greater volume of clothing items to freely distribute, and she’s expecting this next occasion to be bigger than it was last year.
“Our fall (giveaway in 2023) was bigger than our spring one, so I’m expecting that we’ll continue to see some growth. Our community is really generous,” she added.
The Mother’s Day event is intended to help mothers in need, of course, but MJFS is always willing to help everyone who comes through its doors in their time of need.
“A lot of (people from the community) were accessing (the clothing at our previous giveaway events), and we love it,” Jones confirmed.
The organization doesn’t keep a record of who accesses the clothing, and all transactions remain confidential. Still, Jones noticed a sizable uptick in newcomers and international students who are also seeing a benefit from the now bi-annual giveaway.
Clothing and other household items are sourced from generous donors in the community. As it stands, a wide assortment of women’s and children’s clothing options are consistently in stock, but men’s clothing items have been in steady short supply.
“So, if people are going through their closets and they have men’s clothing, shoes, and whatnot to donate, they’re definitely in high demand.
“We appreciate that (everyone) is quick to donate and to help fill the needs that (exist) in the community,” Jones said.
“We have lots of people who are struggling with the economy that we’re living in right now,” she added. “If we can help reduce one (expense), which is maybe clothing, then we’re happy to do that.”
You can help support MJFS in its efforts to improve the community by donating any items you no longer need to the drop-off location during regular business hours. MJFS is open five days a week between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is closed on weekends.
Moose Jaw Family Services Inc. is located at 200 Main Street South and can be reached at 306-694-8133 or by email at Contact@MJFamilyServices.ca.
