With the season of giving officially upon us, the countdown is on for the Cochrane Activettes’ 2013 Share Your Christmas campaign.
The program will launch Nov. 29 with collection boxes being set up in Cochrane’s shops, grocery stores, schools and churches. Each year, the women’s organization aims to collect enough food, clothing and gift donations to enhance the holiday season for a number of local families.
Cochrane and area residents generously contribute to this program each year — last year the initiative distributed nearly 130 hampers to Cochrane and area families in need. This year, the Activettes hope to be prepared to give out at least that many.
“There are so many people in Cochrane that are in desperate need,” said Helen Parnell, a representative of the women’s group. “Our town is growing and our regular weekly distribution of food hampers increases week after week and year after year.”
Parnell said collection boxes will be set up at about 20 locations throughout Cochrane, including Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall Drug Store.
The Activettes encourage gifts donations that are geared towards families and children of all ages — especially teenagers, said Parnell. These gifts include books, gift cards for coffee shops, movie theatres and iTunes, toys or family board games.
The organization will accept all brand new, unwrapped gifts.
Food donations can be dropped off at any of Cochrane’s grocery stories. The Activettes seek to provide one month’s worth of food in each hamper. As always, proteins such as canned meats and peanut butter are always in need, as are cleaning and personal hygiene products.
In addition, Parnell said she’d like to see the shelves of the food bank stocked with Christmas staples like ham, cranberry sauce and stuffing.
The group — along with their pal Santa Claus — will be set up at Nov. 30’s Cochrane Light-Up. Donation boxes can be found at five separate locations for the evening event, which will run from 5-7 p.m. along First Street.
Anyone requiring a Christmas hamper is urged to contact Brenda at 587-224-1722 by Dec. 16.
The organization can be reached at 403-932-9290.
