Calgary dry cleaner cleans parkas by day, gives them away to city's most vulnerable on the weekend
Talk about essential workers: A Calgary dry cleaner cleans winter jackets by day, and then on weekends, gives them away to the city's most vulnerable.
Imran Rajpoot owns Dolphin Dry Cleaners, which has seven Calgary locations. Working with the non-profit organization Humanity First, he cleans gently-used donated items, then gives them away to those who need a winter jacket.
About 100 coats have already been donated, and Saturday another 50 to 60 more will be handed out.
"It's all about timing," Rajpoot said. "We were lucky we collected the coats at the right time, just before it got really cold and just been at the right place at the right time for these people."
Calgary has been in the grips of a blast of winter since Christmas Eve, with windchills making it feel like 40 below some days.
Rajpoot said in addition to winter wear, food and warm drinks will be handed out.
“We feel the need of our community and are here to help,” said Rajpoot, the company president, in a release.
“Winter gear is essential to life in Calgary and providing suitable coats for an entire family is an expensive undertaking. With growing families, coats often have to be replaced season after season, year after year! We know this means that there are families struggling to get all the gear they need. And this also means there are families that end up with a surplus of winter clothes!"
Imran Rajpoot owns Dolphin Dry Cleaners, which has seven Calgary locations. Working with the non-profit organization Humanity First, he cleans gently-used donated items, then gives them away to those who need a winter jacket.
"We’re here to make the connection and get unused winter gear to Calgary families-in-need.”
Last year, Rajpoot said they were distributing coats once a month, but this year, they've been doing it every week because need is so great.
"You can't help but appreciate the gratefulness," he said.
"The thank you they give you - and they thank you with their eyes."
If you have used winter coats and other gear, drop it off at a Dolphin Dry Cleaners location.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland says she is 'not going anywhere' after Conservatives call her 'phantom finance minister'
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland declared she is 'not going anywhere' when pushed by the Conservatives on Monday about her future as finance minister.
Rebooked your flight? Here are your options after Air Canada reached a tentative deal with its pilots
Air Canada is offering passengers the option to change flights back. Here's what you need to know.
Mortgage loan rules are changing in Canada
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced changes to mortgage rules she says are aimed at helping more Canadians to purchase their first home.
A passing comet could shine as bright as Venus. Here are the best viewing times
This eye-catching celestial event is around the corner and will appear in the skies this fall.
Singh challenged on carbon tax stance as MPs return to Ottawa
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh still won't say whether his party would scrap the federal carbon pricing program if elected, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is increasing his calls for the NDP to vote non-confidence in the Liberals and trigger a 'carbon tax election.'
A pipeline explosion is shooting a towering pillar of flame over a Houston suburb
A massive pipeline fire shooting a towering pillar of flame for hours over suburban Houston on Monday as first responders evacuated a surrounding neighborhood and tried to keep more nearby homes from catching fire.
'Never seen anything like this': Humpback whale catches unsuspecting seal off Vancouver Island
A Vancouver Island nature photographer says he has never seen anything like what his camera captured on a recent whale-watching excursion off Victoria.
Body recovered from B.C. lake after unclothed man leads investigators to crash site
Mounties are investigating a fatal crash north of Whistler, B.C., after an unclothed man who was found along the side of the road led police to a pickup truck submerged in a lake with one occupant still inside.
Jane's Addiction cancels tour in the wake of an onstage fight
The alternative rock band Jane's Addiction has scuttled its latest tour following an onstage scuffle between lead singer Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro.