Activettes keeping up despite 55% increase in demand at food bank

It was a year filled with an unprecedented increase in demand but also plenty of celebrations for the Cochrane Activettes. 

Sue Lunnin, president says 2023 was a milestone year for them.

"It was our 45th anniversary. We were founded in 1978 in the basement of the Anglican Church, and then moved into our current location in 2008. We've grown from 46 members, along with 100 community volunteers. Our largest anniversary project was the AED (automated external defibrillator) program in which we placed 11 units around town.

Lunnin says there are still four more AEDs that will find homes in Cochrane in 2024. 

The group also held a few smaller celebrations throughout the year that saw them hand out cupcakes, frisbees and buttons at community events. 

She says there was a sharp increase in the need at the food bank.

"We're keeping up with the demand although it's definitely a struggle as we see an increase in the food usage. We've seen a 55 per cent increase in the past year from 2022 through 2023. We also collaborate with the school lunch programs and the weekend program. We service 18 schools in Cochrane and area."

"The year began with our long awaited expansion of our food bank as we needed more space."

A brand new mezzanine was added to bay 6, adding more square footage to the space.

The annual Share Your Christmas Program just wrapped up where Lunnin says a record number of hampers were handed out to families in need in the Cochrane area.

She says "We handed out an incredible 404 hampers compared to last year when we distributed 340. Definitely heartfelt and sad emotions with this. The Activettes knew that the numbers would rise but we were really surprised by how much."

Volunteers clocked a record 1000 hours this year in order to fulfill the 404 Christmas hampers. 

"Looking ahead to 2024 will be much of the same. We will continue to do our best to reach the increased food bank demands. Throughout the year we will continue to work with The Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area and Cochrane and Area Events Society. We support them and they support us. And yes, just doing our best and plugging along."

The Cochrane Activettes also operates the Cochrane Clothesline.

"The Clothesline located at Fourth Avenue is doing very well and offers affordable, gentle used clothing, jewelry, purses and linens, It was very successful for us this past year. It runs totally on donations dropped off directly at the store, and proceeds go into our community and into our food bank."

There are plenty of ways to volunteer with and donate to the Cochrane Activettes. 

In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to local news from their platforms, CochraneNow encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CochraneNow app.