The Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area has reached a major milestone, rescuing over $2.5 million worth of food since launching the Free Food Shed program.
Executive Director Alex Montiel says the achievement is a testament to community support and volunteers. "We have almost 300 volunteers supporting us, and without them, this milestone wouldn't be possible."
The grassroots program collects unsellable yet edible food from local grocers and redistributes it for free through two community food sheds.
One at St. Andrew's United Church and the other at the Bow Valley Baptist Church.
The Food Rescue program has shared more than 784,000 meals and rescued over 356,000 kilograms of food.
"These sheds allow people in need to pick whatever they want, with no registration or requirements," Montiel explains.
The initiative also has a positive environmental impact. Montiel notes that more than 1.4 million kilograms of greenhouse gases have been diverted, the equivalent of removing 310 cars from the road for a year.
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Montiel, who joined Helping Hands three months ago, says the generosity of Cochrane residents has been inspiring. "People just pop into the office with extra food or clothes, wanting to give back to the community."
Looking ahead, the organization aims to reach $3 million in food rescued and is exploring new initiatives like a community kitchen and additional support vehicles.
"We are looking to grow and support more people."
He also praises volunteers for their dedication. "They are the heart of the organization. The 2.5 million figure is just what we can count, but many volunteers contribute extra daily, so the actual number is even higher."