COCHRANE– Gearing up to help celebrate birthdays in the Cochrane community, The Cochrane Jeepers have been making their rounds throughout the Town during COVID-19 to lift the spirits of the community.
The Cochrane Jeepers Facebook Group formed to bring together Jeep lovers before COVID-19 swept the nation. Soon after the arrival of the virus, the group branched out to more than off-roading trips.
The group has rallied together to help celebrate birthdays in the community during the pandemic. Cochrane Jeepers member Lauren Bailey said they assembled their "Jeeple" and started cruising to requested birthday homes with an army of Jeeps fully equipped with streamers, balloons, signs and of course, some rad looking four-by-fours.
On Sunday (May 10) the Cochrane Jeepers will be shifting gears and hosting a food drive for the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank. Bailey said because the group is becoming more known around Town the food drive seemed like a perfect opportunity to do something good for the community.
"I know a lot of people are going through a hard time right now, and it's a tough go. There's a lot of people out of work, there's a lot of people in bad situations, there's a lot of people who just mentally this has been a huge struggle. I think the Food Bank is a good way to support the community and make sure that no one is going to go hungry."
The food drive has been given the thumbs up from the Town of Cochrane as well as Cochrane RCMP and Peace Officers. It will take place in the parking lot of the Cochrane Alliance Church from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30. There will be a table set up and the food drive will mimic a drive-thru style to follow public health guidelines, Bailey said.
"We will have two different laneways set up. You drive up, put your stuff on the table and once you drive away, one of us will pick up the goods."
Prizes are also up for grabs from local businesses and the Cochrane Jeepers members have contributed some cash to purchase a grocery card.
"We're not doing it to advertise, we want people to come out and we also want Mothers Day to be recognized because I think it's going to be hard on a lot of moms," Bailey said.
She added prize winners will be chosen through a number randomizing app— For example, the 39th car that drives through could drive away with a little something extra if the number appears on the app.
"It's going to be a fun day, whether it's going to be cold or not, it's just isn't going to matter because everyone's going to be there and it's going to bring the community together and I really hope we have a good turnout."
Since the start of the Jeep Parades, Bailey says well over 100 birthdays have been done within Cochrane. Last Sunday (May 3), 17 jeeps were in transit to a home and along the way another Jeep joined in, as well as an RCMP cruiser and Peace Officer. She said the support the group has received from the community has exceeded their expectations.
"When we're driving down the highways or through Town, people are excited to see us. There's people honking at us and waving at us and on top of that, when we come to lights or stop signs, people will let all of us go through and it's awesome because it makes our life just a little bit easier trying to stay together," Bailey said. "The birthday parades came up after COVID, because kids and families can't really celebrate much and it's just a way to bring a smile to faces— Every time I go out with everybody and we drive by a family and the kids are jumping up and down and they're so excited, I can't even describe the feeling. It's such a small gesture but it makes people so happy."
Currently, Cochrane Jeepers are going out every night sending drive-by birthday wishes. The hope is to continue with the parades after COVID-19 restrictions begin to get lifted, but the events will likely have to be toned down in the future Bailey said.
"How do you stop," she said. "There's so many people that love it."
All birthday inquiries can be made through the Facebook group Cochrane Jeepers Birthday Parades.
