The Cochrane Food Bank is encouraging community members to donate year round so shelves can remain stocked up.

With current stock running low, hampers that used to be able to last a family of four a month are being reduced, shares Cochrane Activette Helen Parnell. "We are not giving out as much as we normally do. A family of four is only getting one can of tuna. We're not getting any canned fruit, things that people don't think about. Even though we give apples, canned fruit is very good as well as oatmeal; those things we are short of."

 Oatmeal, tuna, meat and canned fruit are all on the wish list right now as well as monetary donations. The food bank is currently trying to have more fresh food items added to hampers but those items are bought and doled out right away. "We are trying to encourage more fresh food and to get the fresh food we need the money to come through our PayPal account or just to the Food Bank. We are trying more and more to purchase ground beef, fruits, vegetables, apples, oranges and so that is what we would like to do."

In September 2017, the food bank began a trial of handing out fresher food items such as apples, potatoes and carrots to their clients and so far the additional items have been well received. "We are just doing three things, you have to start somewhere, and that has been going down very well so we are going to continue and we're wanting to extend it."

Currently, the food bank will receive frozen meat from Airdrie when there is a surplus amount and Parnell is hopeful to get Cochrane grocery stores to consider doing what Airdrie does. "We are trying to get local stores to freeze their meat one day before it expires and then to give it to us. It works in Airdrie and it works in Okotoks, we are trying to get Cochrane shops to do it."

Frozen meat like fresh produce needs to be handed out immediately as the Food Bank currently does not have the capacity to store such items. Parnell says they are hopeful to get a freezer within the next couple months and a garden plot for summertime.

The long-range plan for the Activettes is a larger space that would allow fresh and non-perishable items on site but that goal is currently a few years away. "A food bank will be a two million dollar hit. We're just not ready for that venture yet."

In the meantime, Parnell is hopeful to see more donations come in. With a rising demand for help, she anticipates it may not be long until hampers will be handed out twice a week rather than once.

Cochranites are known for their generous support of the Food Bank and donations are always welcome. Non-perishable items can be placed in bins at No Frills, Safeway and Save On Foods while monetary donations can be made HERE.

The next big push for the food bank will be the Helping Hands Food Drive scheduled for Saturday, April 21.