A local Cochrane restauranteur wants to help brighten the holiday season for Cochrane residents who don't already have plans for a special festive meal.

Jag Thind is the owner of Mehtab East Indian Cuisine in Cochrane and he is offering a free holiday meal, complete with delivery to Cochranites without Christmas dinner plans.

"People are really going through a rough time and we thought the least we can do is food," says Thind. "Christmas Eve is a great time to do something special. So, if someone is alone or not having a special meal on Christmas Eve, we want to make them smile. We want to do something special for them."

Thind is no stranger to the Cochrane community, he is an active volunteer who has been offering struggling Cochranites free meals from his restaurant since the early days of the COVID lockdown.

Thind says that he has already received many orders for tomorrow and that in true Cochrane form, he's hearing from Cochranites who are looking out for their neighbours and friends.

"We are getting lots of orders actually, and not one single person is calling for themselves," says Thind. "Every single person who has sent me a message is calling for a friend or neighbour who is going through a rough phase."

Thind is encouraging anyone who is on their own this holiday season and without dinner plans to reach out to him for a free festive meal. He says that he is personally taking the orders and he'll also be the one to deliver the meals, "no questions asked."

Christmas Eve orders can be placed until mid day tomorrow, and the deliveries will be made between 4 pm and 6 pm.

You can send Thind a personal message and place a Christmas Eve holiday order here.