FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Cochrane Activettes are celebrating 45 years of charitable service to the town of Cochrane and an area that extends North to Cremona, South just past Bragg Creek, East to the Calgary Limits and West to Mini Thni (Morley) limits.
Since it’s conception in 1978, the Activettes have transformed from a small organization focused on developing service projects and hosting fund raisers in support of community initiatives. Fast forward four plus decades and the Activettes stand even stronger as a chartered not for profit organization, engaged in many charitable welfare initiatives and civic work projects aimed at enhancing the community.
Currently forty-seven (47) women are the heartbeat of the Cochrane Activettes. These women, alongside nearly 100 community volunteers, are what keep the dedicated pulse going for the three major projects that form the foundation of the club’s community service. These projects are: operation of the Cochrane Food Bank, The Clothesline, and the annual Share Your Christmas program.
The food bank had its humble beginnings in the basement of the Anglican church, then moved to its current warehouse location in 2008 and had to expand its footprint in 2019. Together with the support of many local business, private donations and most notably the collaborative efforts of The Helping Hands, who orchestrate quarterly food drives, the food bank is always striving to meet the growing demand. Over the past ten years the number of food hampers delivered has more than doubled (food hampers > 162%, recipients >133%).
Cochrane Activettes, for nearly 30 years, have been the proud sole proprietor of The Clothesline, continually invests its profits back into the community. This store strives to provide gently used, clean
clothing at minimal cost and has seen a year over year increase in profits. One could say we are doing our part to aid in the promotion of and contributing to environmentalstewardship.
The one service project that probably brings the greatest amount of joy to so many, is the annual Share Your Christmas program. Through the giving spirit and support of local business owners, schools, sports teams, church and social groups, and individual donations of food, funds, toys, or volunteer time, that the Cochrane Activettes can bring together hundreds of hampers filled with food, clothing, and toys for families in need. During the holiday season of 2022, 340 hampers were provided to over 1200 adults andchildren of our community.
Over the past 45 years the Cochrane Activities have stood behind our youth in Cochrane. The Activettes applied for and obtained fundng for the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane, assisted in the startup of Cochrane minor baseball,and obtained funding for the establishment of Home Treasures, Cochrane Activettes were also instrumental in the provisions of appliances to local schools. The Activettes continue to support a year- round no child hungry program with food hampers provided to local schools and the Boys and Girls Club. In 2013, the Activettes established educational bursaries and to date have awarded nearly $40,000 to Cochrane students seeking post-secondary academic or technical studies.
The numerous accolades received by the Activettes, such as Citizen of the Year, Community Builder of the Year, and Volunteer Club of the Year, to name a few, certainly allow us to stand out as a pillar of the community.
This organization stands ready to face the challenges of its fifth decade, able to carry out major initiatives like those mentioned above, and to carry-on with the distribution of items like AED’s, purchasing appliances for affordable housing, or support to other services such as the delivery of meals as provided by Big Hill Lodge, Bethany birthday /entertainment program, and assistant with the Red Cross Blood Donor clinics. It’s always a pleasure to partner with the men and women of CAES with holiday initiatives such as Stuff the Bus and the Cochrane Holiday Light–up. Of course, the Cochrane Activettes are always excited to host the community at our annual Labour Day Pancake Breakfast. It gives us an opportunity to say THANK YOU for helping us help you make this a better community.
Interested in finding out more about our organization? Please visit our website at COCHRANE ACTIVETTES.COM and we can also be found on Facebook and Instagram. While you’re there be sure to touch one of our big RED Hearts so we can open yours through an act of volunteering or a donation. Of course, you can always send us an email at info@cochraneactivettes.com. We are always pleased to talk about this great organization; one that really makes a difference in the community and surrounding areas that we call HOME.
Cochrane Activettes 1978 -2023
