Cochrane Food Bank

During the year food hamper requests are handled by:

• Cochrane Family and Community Support Services
• #1, 209 Second Avenue, Cochrane, AB
• 403 851 2255
• Monday – Friday  8:30 am – 4:30 pm
• September to June Thursday until 7 pm

The boundaries of the program extend south to and including Bragg Creek, north to Cremona but not including Cremona, east to the Calgary city limits and west to Jamieson Road

Each household may receive up to 5 hampers per year plus one Christmas hamper

Hampers are distributed every Thursday afternoon during the year and the Saturday before Christmas

During the Christmas season hamper requests are made directly to the Cochrane Activettes – the phone number information is published in the newspapers, on the website and is available from the food bank at 403 932 9290 or Cochrane FCSS at 403 851 2255

Email address – info@cochraneactivettes.com

Would you like to help provide

• Diapers for the babies
• Milk for the children
• Breakfast for the grade schooler
• School lunch for the teenager
• Peace of mind for the disabled
• A financial respite for the recently unemployed

Cheques can be made payable to the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank and mailed to:

•   Cochrane Activettes
•   Box 535
•   Cochrane, AB
•   T4C 1A7

Non perishable food items can be donated at area food stores, No Frills, Safeway and Save On Foods throughout the year, there are additional sites during the Christmas season. PayPal donations can be made through the website. Monetary donations are eligible for a charitable income tax receipt

The donations the Cochrane Activettes require to run the Food Bank come from within the community.

• Grocery store food bins
• Schools
• Churches
• Helping Hands semi-annual food drives
• Corporate donations
• Individuals
• Community organizations

We have several volunteer opportunities at the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank

• Sort food
• Pick up food at various locations
• Deliver lunch and breakfast items to schools
• Food drives through Helping Hands

During Share Your Christmas (our holiday season hamper program) we also require additional volunteers to pack hampers

If the Food Bank schedule is full for the time that you wish to volunteer – please check out other Cochrane Activettes volunteering needs.

Food Banks in Canada were started in the early 1980’s after a world wide recession left many Canadian families in extremely poor financial position.

All age ranges use the Food Bank with an average of 43% being children.

The food hamper program in Cochrane is operated by the Cochrane Activettes Club. The Activettes have been helping the Community with this program since 1995 when the first Food Bank was operating out of the basement of the Anglican Church.

The Food Bank has been operating out of its current location since 2008.

Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area co-ordinate food drives for the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank in the spring and fall of each year.

Many Cochrane and area residents have participated with the Cochrane Activettes to bring the food hamper program to our community. One example is Waylon Britton, a native to the region, who built the grocery bin currently located at Save On Foods

Partnering with No Frills grocery store we provide fresh milk to hamper recipients

Through a program with the Alberta Food Banks we are able to include fresh eggs in our hampers

Another service we provide is a coupon to obtain pet food from the Cochrane and Area Humane Society. This enables those in need to maintain possession of cherished friends.

• Approximately 88% of the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank revenue comes from donations from our community.
• Since 2014 the Cochrane Food Bank has seen an increase in weekly hampers from 615 to 1007 for 2017. That is a 63% increase in demand.
• Also since 2014 the number of food hamper recipients has increased from 1908 to 2729 in 2017– up 43%.
• 43% of those helped are children.
• Corporate teams, groups and individuals volunteered 2812 hours in 2017 to help at the Food Bank.  
• The Cochrane Activettes have been operating the Food Bank in Cochrane since 1995.

A place where stocks of food, typically basic provisions and non-perishable items, are supplied free of charge to people in need. Food Banks in Canada were started in the early 1980’s.

The boundaries of the program extend south to and including Bragg Creek, north to Cremona but not including Cremona, east to   the Calgary city limits and west to Jamieson Road

Anyone in the area that is serviced by the program can apply for a hamper

All ages use the food bank with about 43% being children.

Donations come from within the Community. We receive donations from grocery store bins, schools, churches and semi-annual   food drives as well as corporate and individual donations.

The most important food items are protein, then vegetables and fruit. Protein like canned meats, stew, chili, salmon and tuna are expensive so there is a high demand for them and we do not received many donations of those items. If we are short on any basic   food items we use monetary donations from the community to supplement our stock.

We do get requests for diabetic or gluten free hampers and try to accommodate that as best we can.

The months before our semi-annual food drives usually see our shelves depleted. Also before Christmas as there are many more hampers to be distributed.

Christmas, July and September. July is the beginning of a new year for our hamper program. Each household is allowed 5 hampers   per year (from July 1 to June 30) and one Christmas hamper. September is busy because of the new school year and there are   additional costs for families at that time which can put a strain on their budgets. Christmas, of course, is a high demand time.

Volunteer at the Food Drives and during the Share Your Christmas Program. Also donations of non-perishable food items and cash donations are always appreciated.

There are many ways to donate Click Here to check them out.

During the year food hampers requests are handled by Cochrane Family and Community Support Services.

Click Here to find out how to apply. Not sure where to link this?

The Cochrane Activettes have been operating the Cochrane Food Bank since 1995 in partnership with Cochrane Family and   Community Support Services. It is intended to provide food hampers to families and individuals who find themselves in a temporary difficult financial situation.

MANY!!!! One part time employee and about 12 volunteers per week are required to pick up non perishable items, sort groceries, prepare   hampers and then distribute the hampers to the recipients. There are many other tasks that also need to be done including organizing food   drives and the Share Your Christmas Program. It takes 150 to 200 volunteers each year for the operation of the Food Bank in Cochrane to be successful.

Yes we are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. Our charity number is 11886 6789.   The Cochrane Food Bank hopes to raise   $180,000.00 in 2017. The money will be used to purchase hamper supplies and pay operating costs. For further information contact the food   bank at 403 932 9290.

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Prep: 10 min; Cook Time : 25 min; Serves : 6

 Ingredients

10 strips bacon, cut in 1/2″ (1 cm) pieces

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 can (284 mL) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 can (284 mL) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

1½ cans (284 mL each) milk

1½ tsp (7 mL) chopped, fresh thyme leaves

3 tbsp (45 mL) chopped, fresh parsley leaves

3 cups (750 mL) cubed, cooked chicken

6 cups (1.5 L) hot cooked spaghetti, without salt

Directions

1. Cook bacon until crisp at medium heat in large skillet. Drain bacon on paper towel; remove all but 1 tbsp (15 mL) fat from skillet.
2. Add onion and garlic to skillet; cook and stir until onions are translucent – about 5 minutes. Stir in mixture of soups, milk, parsley and thyme. Stir in chicken. Bring to a boil, stirring often; stir in bacon. Reduce heat to low.
3. Simmer covered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately over cooked spaghetti.

Prep : 15 min; Cook Time : 25 min; Serves : 4

Ingredients

3/4 cup (175 mL) uncooked wholegrain brown rice

Vegetable oil cooking spray

1 lb (500 g) boneless beef sirloin grilling steak, cut into thin strips

4 cups (1 L) sliced mushrooms

1 medium red onion, chopped or sliced

1 can (284 mL) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

1/2 cup (15 mL) water

1 tbsp (15 mL) Dijon-style mustard

1 tbsp (15 mL) Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried thyme leaves, crushed

1/4 tsp (1 mL) black pepper

Directions

1. Prepare rice according to package directions. Set aside and keep warm.
2. Heat large non-stick skillet, lightly coated with cooking spray, at medium-high heat
3. Add beef and brown well until cooked through, stirring often. Set beef aside. Reduce heat to medium.
4. Add additional cooking spray. Add mushrooms and onion and cook until tender and lightly browned – about 3 to 5 minutes.
5. Stir in mixture of soup, water, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and pepper. Heat to a boil. Return beef to skillet and heat through. Serve with prepared rice.

Prep : 5 min; Cook Time : 11 min; Serves : 2

Ingredients

1 Campbell’s soup can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

1   can Flaked Tuna

2   cups Penne Pasta

1/4 cup Milk

Directions

1. Bring water to a boil in a large pot and salt. Cook pasta for 9-11 minutes, or until desired tenderness.
2. Drain pasta and add 1 can of Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup. Stir in a 1/4 cup of milk and stir.
3. Add in 1/2 can of tuna and stir.
4. Pepper to taste and serve.

Recipe Tip

This recipe is great when you’re in a time crunch and is very flexible. Most pasta varieties will work, and you can use as much or as little mushroom soup/tuna as you like.