The second annual First Responders Parade to collect donations for the Cochrane Activettes is coming to a neighbourhood near you.
The parade will be hitting every neighbourhood in Cochrane sometime between Nov. 15 to Dec. 8 and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is a joint effort between Cochrane Fire Services, RCMP, Victim Services, EMS, municipal enforcement, the Cochrane Activettes and town councillor, Marni Fedeyko, who was key a player in organizing the event last year.
"Being on the truck to be able to ride with Fire (Services), I was able to see firsthand people's reactions - people cheering, clapping, waving, some people were playing music," Fedeyko said. "It was just awesome to see that comradery in town and the appreciation for our emergency services. So we decided to do it all over again this year."
The parade is collecting non-perishable food items such as honey, oatmeal and canned fruit, plus things like Kleenex and paper towel for the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank.
Items such as unwrapped gifts, gift cards, pyjamas and personal hygiene items for men, women, children and especially teens are also being accepted for the Activettes Share Your Christmas campaign. The campaign allows families in need of support during the holidays to call the Activettes and collect a hamper with food items and gifts.
The event originally began as a first responder's parade to lift community spirits at the beginning of the pandemic and did not collect donations.
Fedeyko sat down with Cochrane Fire inspector Jeff Avery and RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff to discuss the idea of starting it up again while collecting donations for a charitable organization like the Activettes.
"We decided what a better way to be able to get donations collecting along the parade route," she said. "It was received so well, not just from a donation standpoint, but it was also very heartwarming."
Last year, the parade collected 201 grocery carts of food and 54 carts of toys, said Fedeyko.
Cochrane Fire Services fire chief Shawn Polley said the parade aims to end by 7 p.m. each night in an effort to not disturb residents and little ones with emergency vehicle lights and sirens.
"It's also so that we can get that little more light for visibility so that we can see those folks that are waiting to bring food outside," he said.
The first of the parades in Sunset Ridge on Nov. 15 fell under the cover of low visibility due to foggy conditions, which Fedeyko added is a factor that can lead to some missed houses along the route, even with the vehicles moving slowly.
"If we do miss something, people can always reach out to me and I will personally come by and collect it for them," she said. "Sometimes we don't see people with their items but we do our best. All of these [parade members] are volunteering so be sure to come out and make them feel appreciated - give a wave, give a smile."
Schedule of parade dates in communities (subject to change):
Nov. 15 - Sunset Ridge
Nov. 17 - Heartland
Nov. 19 - Heritage Hills
Nov. 22 - Fireside
Nov. 24 - Bow Ridge/Bow Meadows/Crawford Ranch/Jumping Pound
Nov. 26 - Riversong/River Heights/Riviera/Precedence/The Willows
Nov. 29 - West Valley/ West Terrace/West Pointe
Dec. 1 - Glenbow
Dec. 3 - East End/Cochrane Heights/Sunterra
Dec. 6 - Gleneagles
Dec. 8 - Riverview
