(Photo: Discover Airdrie News Centre)

Cochrane’s Helping Hands Society is getting ready to collect non-perishable food items from residents all over Cochrane and the surrounding area.

The spring food drive gets underway this Saturday, April 25 at 10 am. Volunteers will be out canvassing areas all over town picking up donations left on doorsteps.

Terrance Haxton, Helping Hands Chairperson is pleased to partner with other local society’s such as the Cochrane Activettes and Cochrane’s Family Community Support Services (FCSS).

"Helping Hands society links people with other people, who need help in supporting their basic needs."

Haxton is no stranger to helping others out, for 32 years he taught and was the principal at many local RVS schools. Once retired Haxton felt the need to give back to his community.

Now with 300-500 volunteers who help out with a variety of tasks for Helping Hands, the group is moving ahead full steam after its inception over 8 years ago. The group has helped to provide hampers to families in need or to aid families by doing chores or tasks for them.

The semi annual food drive was able to collect 25,000 lbs of food last year.

Besides picking up on doorsteps in Cochrane, the volunteers are also able to hit up surrounding areas drop boxes in the communities of Bearspaw/Lochend as well as Redwood Meadows/Bragg Creek.

There will also be a variety of drop boxes in Cochrane available at Safeway, Save On Foods, No Frills and Sunset Ridge Pharmacy. Haxton would love to see more donate and encourages people to be generous in their donations.

Helping Hands are always looking for more volunteers to lend a helping hand and are encouraged to contact the FCSS at 403-851-2250 if they would like to get involved.

Marni Fedeyko - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com