COCHRANE— Food Drives have always played an instrumental part in meeting the needs of the local community. Cochrane's Semi-Annual Food Drives, which are organized by Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area were cancelled to adhere to public health regulations created by the province in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adjusting to the new normal, Helping Hands has implemented seven mobile Food Drives which will replace the standard Semi-Annual Food Drives in hopes of continuing to assist the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank during these unsure times.
The spring and fall Food Drive contribute to over 50 per cent of donations for the Cochrane Activettes. If the idea of the mobile Food Drives didn't make headway, the Food Bank would be seeing a significant drop in donations.
"We want to continue to support them and foster community engagement with our individuals within the communities," explained Chairra Nicolle, volunteer programs manager with Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area.
The mobile Food Drives will run a little differently all thanks to the COVID-19 virus. From June to October there will be a total of seven mobile Food Drives throughout communities in Cochrane with a two stage approach being taken said Nicolle. She added food collection will first take place within communities followed by its sorting on a separate day.
In a world before COVID-19, the Semi-Annual Food Drives would take place at a church in Cochrane with a large group of volunteers gathering to lend their helping hand. The Cochrane Activettes would also be on location to sort out all of the food collections.
"Because the Food Drives have been going on for 13 years in the bigger format, as the community has grown, we've just adjusted with that, but now we're having to make some adjustments and actually go backwards a little bit," laughed Nicolle. "The benefit is, is that we are going to have seven quite close together so we can make quick adjustments and analyze them after they've happened."
The mobile Food Drives will take COVID-19 health and safety regulations into account Nicolle said.
"We will have hand sanitizer and masks available. If someone hasn't put out their bag with the donations we will knock on the door, step off of the porch so that we're honouring their distance," she said, adding by simply knocking on doors they are able to acquire 50 per cent more in donations.
Residents are encouraged to look for the Helping Hands donation bag which will be distributed along with the Cochrane Eagle prior to the Food Drive scheduled in your community. Nicolle pointed out the Helping Hands bag isn't required to donate any items and that standard plastic bags or a box will do just fine. The following are the dates and communities of the mobile Food Drives door-to-door campaign.
June 13th- Gleneagles & East End
June 27th- West Valley, West Terrace & West Pointe
June 27th- Bow Meadows, Bow Ridge & Jumping Pound
August 29th- Riverview, Glenbow, Sunterra, Cochrane Heights
Sept. 12th- Sunset Ridge
Sept 26th -Heritage Hills & Heartland
Oct 12th- Riversong, Willows & Fireside
Nicolle is asking that all donations bags or boxes be placed out by 10 a.m. on the day of the scheduled drive.
"Our volunteers will start going door-to-door just after 10 a.m. and if they are missed they are more than welcome to call us and let us know or take their donations to any grocery store in town," Nicolle said.
Helping Hands is currently looking for volunteers for all dates. If you would like to be part of the mobile Food Drives visit [email protected] or 587-580-9448.
