The annual Jingle & Mingle Over Soup will go ahead this year, but with a twist. 

Sandra Scott with the Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee says they've had to change things up a bit.

"Unfortunately with the COVID-19 restrictions, we can't have a sit-down dinner or sit-down soup and sharing time, so we're going to do a drive-through."

The annual Jingle & Mingle Over Soup is happening on Dec. 25.

"On Christmas day from 11 until 1 you can drive through at Cochrane Alliance Church and we'll have it set up so you get gift bags and you'll get soup and a bun and cookies and some treats, and there might be some entertainment there as you drive through as well."

Scott says the idea behind why they're hosting this event remains the same. 

"We just want people to realize that they're not alone on Christmas, especially this year. There's a lot more people that are going to be away from their families."

They're putting together gift bags for anyone who comes for soup and right now there's an opportunity for Cochranites to help. 

"If people would like to donate, whether they'd like to donate something to put into the gift bags, because we're making gift bags for the adults and the young people, they can do that. Or if they'd like to make a monetary donation, they can do that as well."

They usually serve over 100 people, but Scott anticipates a higher number this year. 

"We're also taking registrations for the day as well. So, if you'd like to register to say you are coming, it's a free event, we just would like to have an idea of how many people are coming." 

She says "With COVID and us being in isolation, a lot of us in some sort since March, and now it's winter and we're still looking at being away from our families and our friends and not doing the celebrating and the joyous things that we usually do at Christmas, I think it's going to be really difficult for a lot of people."

To register or to make a donation for Jingle & Mingle Over Soup you can email Sandra at cisccochrane@gmail.com.

Jingle and Mingle