Episode 1: Kari Jo Butirich and the Jacket Drive Journey

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Kari Jo Podcast, where we delve into the heartwarming story of how Kari Jo initiated the Jacket Drive. In this eighth Annual Jacket Drive, Kari Jo as we affectionately call her, shares the details of this year’s drive – from the chosen schools, West and South Hancock Elementary, to the collection points and the significance of focusing on elementary sizes.

As Kari Jo passionately describes, the drive aims to provide jackets for kids in need, emphasizing the importance of keeping the focus on elementary sizes as older kids often shy away from wearing jackets. The deadline for donations is set for December eighth, ensuring that the jackets can be distributed to the schools before Christmas break.

The episode highlights a special event held at Glory Bound the night before Thanksgiving, where participants can enjoy drink specials by donating ten dollars on their tab or contributing a new or gently used jacket or hoodie. The atmosphere is one of camaraderie, with music and a collective effort to make a positive impact on the community.

Kari Jo reflects on the origins of the Jacket Drive, which began when her daughter Kaylee was three. Witnessing the lack of jackets among kids attending speech therapy classes triggered her to take action. The first year saw a remarkable collection of two hundred jackets, and the drive has grown consistently, reaching around five hundred and fifty jackets last year.

The conversation turns to the expansion of the drive beyond schools. Kari Jo shares her commitment to reaching families in need and Angel Tree children, emphasizing the importance of community support. She encourages everyone to contribute, whether through jackets or a monetary donation, stressing that even a small amount can make a significant difference in a child’s life.

The podcast explores the logistics of the drive, including how jackets are presented to kids. Different schools have varied approaches, some opting for private distributions while others create a more communal experience. Kari Jo expresses the continuous need for volunteers, especially in organizing and sorting the donated jackets.

Transitioning to Kari Jo’s latest venture, the Crafty Clover, the podcast briefly touches on her newfound passion for crafting personalized gifts. The Crafty Clover, co-founded with her best friend, has become a full-time endeavor, catering to commercial and wedding accounts while providing personalized touches to gifts.

As the podcast wraps up, Kari Jo extends an invitation to the community to join the drive and attend the event at Glory Bound. She emphasizes the positive impact that even a small contribution can have on a child in need, underscoring the collective effort needed to make a difference.