The Cochrane Activettes Share Your Christmas campaign is well underway this season. The group is collecting new gifts, toys, and food for those in need in the Cochrane area.

As the date to distribute the items gets closer and closer, Marcia Gilbertson with The Cochrane Activettes says they are seeing a large jump in hampers needed this year. 

“We haven't been doing this many hampers before. Last year we did 309 and we expect to do closer to 400 this year.”

“We're prepared but we're looking for more donations, there's no doubt about it. We are not surprised by the raise in need, we also run the food bank and we have seen the need increase exponentially. So we're not surprised that it's happening with our Christmas hampers as well.”

With the need increasing and the time to donate running short, the Activettes are hoping to see large attendance for two major holiday events. 

Stuff-A-Bus takes over the Canadian Tire parking lot tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

The CP Holiday Train chugs into Cochrane on Tuesday and Gilbertson says they will be front and center. 

“We're kind of having a pregame show. We're going to be there at 1:30 and we're going to have Santa coming by for a visit. We're going to have some music, and places to donate.”

Unwrapped toys, teen gifts, and non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the events. 

Anyone in Cochrane and the surrounding area needing a hamper can reach the Cochrane Activettes at (403) 369-8837.