Helping Hands gives back over 10,000 volunteer hours in 2023

With Cochrane’s population continuing to grow, The Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area has made their mission this year clear, help anyone who needs help.

“We've been able to help significantly more people and we've really increased our awareness this year, “ says Helping Hands executive director Laura McDonald.

“Our mandate is volunteerism and through volunteerism empowering a more resilient Cochrane and so, the fact that I can sit here and say, in 2023, we will have 30 per cent more volunteer hours than we did in 2022. That's a huge win for us.“

That 30 per cent increase means over 10,000 volunteer hours were given back to Cochrane this year.

With over 300 registered volunteers, the team at Helping Hands assist those in the community who may not have a support system of their own. The charity boasts 10 programs that vary from food drives to snow angels and movers with a heart.

McDonald says to see the success of their programs in 2023, you just have to take a peek into one of their two Free Food Sheds in Cochrane. 

“This year we crossed one million dollars in food rescued and we've now crossed actually $1.7 million in food rescued and diverted most importantly, instead of to landfill back into our community for anyone who needs food.”

“One of the things we love is that anyone can find their place at the sheds. Anyone is welcome to come and take food and anyone is welcome to come and donate 24 hours a day.”

With the community quickly growing, she believes Helping Hands will need to continue to evolve alongside the needs of Cochranites.

“What we try to do is, through volunteerism, we try to fill gaps in local social services and those gaps are constantly shifting.”

“We're looking at ways we can help the homeless now, which is an emerging problem in Cochrane. We're looking at ways we can provide perhaps warming shelters on those bitter cold days.”

Helping Hands is looking forward to its major walking fundraiser, Coldest Night Of The Year in February. Mcdonald says they have set a goal of raising $60,000 to support Cochrane's hurt, hungry and homeless.

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