The Cochrane Activettes 'Share Your Christmas' campaign will once again kick off at Cochrane Light Up this Saturday (November 17). 

Shopping carts lit up by Christmas lights will be seen along Historic Main Street, as Cochrane Activette volunteers graciously accept non-perishable food items and unwrapped gifts/clothes for individuals and families in need.

President of the Cochrane Activettes and Chairperson for Share Your Christmas, Jan Tracy, shares what started off with a few volunteers shopping, wrapping, and delivering gifts in the early 80s, has become an incredibly efficient system that takes many hands and volunteer hours. "It was one of the first programs that started with just a few hampers at Christmastime and then it grew into the Cochrane Food Bank."

Last year close to 250 food/toy hampers were created to help families in need at Christmas and the demand for help only seems to increase year over year. "We run an amazing program where we provide enough food for a month, gifts for the children/families and clothing if we have it donated, we also have a partnership with 'Wheels for Kids' in Calgary which is a group of retired oilmen that refurbish bikes for children that need that, and we do give out to seniors as well if they don't have family available to help them."

Although the Share Your Christmas campaign launches this weekend, the Activettes start the planning process in early fall. "Our program actually starts in September, it is a big program and you can't give out that size of hampers to 250 people/families without a lot of organization. I am proud to be an Activette and it's an amazing group of women."

With a growing population and economic hard times, Tracy anticipates the number of hampers to go up. "As Cochrane grows, so does the need. It just keeps going up and we're noticing increases all of the time. It's just part of life these days."

Beginning this Saturday the Activettes will be looking for food and gift items, such as:

  • rice 
  • canned protein (ham, tuna)
  • chunky soups
  • peanut butter
  • canned fruit
  • oatmeal
  • one litre tetra packages of juice
  • baby food
  • hand soap
  • laundry detergent
  • diapers
  • toiletries
  • gift cards (especially for teens)
  • family board games and puzzles
  • books
  • any new and unwrapped gifts for children of all ages

Without community support, Share Your Christmas would just not be possible, shares Tracy. Beginning next week, over 40 businesses in Cochrane will have donation boxes delivered, many local schools will also jump on board to offer support, and Stuff a Bus hosted by Cochrane and Area Events Society is slated to occur on December 15th. "We appreciate all the support from the community as it helps us provide a better holiday season for so many people."

Individuals or families looking for help this holiday season will be able to call the Cochrane Activettes later this week and we will update the number once it is released.

Providing hampers to over 3400 men, women, and children over the course of the year, the Activettes have a massive area in which they serve including those who live in Bragg Creek, to city limits on the east side, all the way out to the Morley boundary, and cutting off just before Cremona.

While the Activettes are asking for toys and gifts to be dropped off by December 15th, food donations are accepted all year round.

Donations will be accepted at Light Up from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, at participating businesses beginning November 19th, while monetary donations will be accepted at RBC, ATB, Bow Valley Credit Union, the Cochrane Activettes website (click HERE) or by mail at:

Cochrane Activettes Food Bank

Box 535,

Cochrane, AB

T4C 1A7

 

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