The Christmas season proved to be a favourable one for both the Nakoda and Cochrane Food Banks. Together, the charitable organizations passed out more than 200 hampers over the holidays.
“The Christmas hamper distribution was a huge success,” said Belinda Simeon, acting manager and intake coordinator at the Nakoda Food Bank. “The Canmore Christmas Spirit program donated 90 hampers — Eden Valley and Big Horn received 20 each, and Morley received 50. We helped those in need of a hamper.”
Simeon said she grateful for everything the food bank achieved during the holiday season, including donations from ATCO Gas and CP Rail. More change lay ahead for the food bank, which has a new manager slated to begin on Jan. 21.
The “Recycle Your Pennies” campaign, which the Nakoda Food Bank is running in conjunction with the Eagle’s Nest Family Shelter, will be continuing throughout the month of January.
The penny drive aims to raise $10,000 to update both non-profit facilities. Collection jugs are set up at several Cochrane-area businesses.
Like their counterparts to the west, the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank chalked up another success campaign with their Share Your Christmas hamper program.
While the final tally of donations has yet to be determined, Activette Heather Fennell said more than 130 hampers were distributed throughout Cochrane this holiday season.
“Cochrane and its community were very, very generous this year,” said Fennell.
Next for the food bank is the annual spring food drive.
Donations bins are set up in each of the three grocery stores in Cochrane, but Fennell said the shelves at the food bank are looking pretty full at this stage.
“We tried to manage our Christmas donations to stretch through to our April food drive,” she said. “It seems to have worked.”
Representatives for both organizations said they couldn’t have had successful holiday campaigns without the help of the community.
“There were so many contributions from local individuals, agencies and the many volunteers,” said Simeon. “Without volunteers this wouldn’t be.”
