'Tis the season for stuffing a school bus full of gifts and goods for local families who need a hand this holiday.
The annual Stuff-a-Bus is back Dec. 11, from 10-3 p.m., at the Canadian Tire.
Cochrane and Area Events Society president Erika Richards said the COVID-19 friendly version of Stuff-a-Bus, in partnership with the Activettes, is back this year in the automotive services side of the store.
"We're asking families to sign up on signup.com and book a time for their photo of Santa," she said noting this ensures less crowding.
This year, those looking to get their photo taken will have the opportunity to trim the tree with Santa looking on.
Last year, Santa was peeking in through a window. The glass doubled as a COVID-19 safety measure. While many organizations were forced to cancel their portraits with Santa due to pandemic restrictions, Richards said she was proud of her team for adapting to the regulations to go ahead with it.
"It's really touching at Christmastime where something so simple means so much," she said
Photos are free with a toy, money or food donation.
All donations are collected Dec. 11 and brought to the Cochrane Activettes' sorting facility where they sort it and distribute it to families through the Share your Christmas Hamper Program.
Richards said cash donations are greatly appreciated, as are non-perishable food items, but she is reminding people to think about all demographics of those receiving these hampers.
"Sometimes the older kids get left out a little bit, the ones that are harder to shop for," she said. "There is a real need for all kinds of things; sporting goods, quiet games, books.
"People are very generous and have great imaginations."
Activettes volunteer Brenda Ulveland said they've been fielding calls over the past week from Cochranites needing a helping hand this Christmas.
"We want to make their Christmas as good as possible," she said, noting there's no eligibility requirements, but rather an honour system.
Instead, the group asks how many are in the family, what are the ages of the children and what's on their wish list.
"They do get toys, maybe clothes and a food hamper," Ulveland said.
Around 290 local families received hampers last year.
"There's no limit," she said. "We don't know how many we may help this year."
For more information, visit cochraneevents.ca.
