The Cochrane & Area Events Society (CAES) has selected the Helping Hands Society of Cochrane & Area as this year's Labour Day Parade Marshals.

Helping Hands is an active charity and volunteer linking organization that has been helping to fill in the gaps or lend a helping hand if you will -- to various programs throughout town since 2007.

Whether it's Caring Neighbours, Volunteer Drivers, Movers with Heart or helping with Food Drives for the Activettes, the volunteers are endlessly working to strengthen the community. Their clients usually consist of low-income seniors, chronically ill residents, single parents and newcomers with practical needs.

CAES President, Erika Richards says that Helping Hands' inventive approach to assist with food security has stood out as a highlight for the Town of Cochrane during a very challenging time.

"What triggered it for us, to really have a good look at them was their inventiveness and dedication to continuing to support all residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond," says Richards. "We were trying to figure out -- 'what was a good news story in Cochrane?' ... and the Free Food Shed just kept coming up."

The 'take what you want and give what you can' initiative was brought to life this year to help remove the stigma of food security, while helping to reduce waste in town.

Richards says that Cochranites can look forward to being greeted by the hard-working crew with Helping Hands at this year's Labour Day celebrations.

"The Labour Day Parade Marshal is an honorary position," explains Richards. "It gives Cochrane and Area Events Society the opportunity to highlight good organizations during one of Cochrane's most beloved and enduring public events."

If you'd like to participate in this year's parade there's still time.

"We are still actively looking for volunteers," says Richards. "We've just revamped our webpage, it just went live a couple of days ago. It has a fantastic new look and all of the information is there."

Richards says they're also still accepting float entries.

The Labour Day parade is happening on Monday, September 6, 2021. If you'd like to help with this year's event you can sign up here.