The Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area will be collecting food donations on May 15 in support of the Cochrane Activettes.

They made the tough decision to cancel the first spring food drive last month, due to heightened COVID-19 restrictions. 

Helping Hands Executive Director Chairra Nicolle says that despite the most recent measures announced by the province to "Stop the Spike" of COVID cases, they will collect donations as planned with heightened protocols in place.

"We are still collecting," says Nicolle."So we'll be collecting in  West Valley, West Terrace, West Pointe, Heartland, Heritage Hills, Bow Meadows, Bow Ridge and Jumping Pound."

Nicolle says that small cohorts will collect the food donations for now, and the sorting will take place at a later time.

"We need 160 hours of volunteer time so we have postponed the sorting," says Nicolle. " We are going to collect and make sure the food bank is topped up and we will figure out the sorting once we get the food there."

Nicolle says that collection bags will be sent in the mail, however, they will collect donations placed in any type of bag or box. 

"Anybody in those neighbourhoods that have a  donation please put them out whether it's in our bag or any other bag or box."

Residents in the West Side neighbourhoods are asked to leave food donations on their doorstep before 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 15.