A Year of Neighbours Helping Neighbours
Year-End Reflection from Pamela & Steve, Founders of Baby It’s Cold Outside
As we come to the close of another year, our hearts are full. Full of gratitude, reflection, and hope.
For more than 20 years, Baby It’s Cold Outside has had the honour of serving the Foothills community. What began as a simple desire to help our neighbours has grown into a collective act of care, compassion, and connection. This year marked our 18th Annual Christmas Feast, a milestone that reminds us just how powerful community can be when people come together with open hearts.
This year also reminded us why this work matters so deeply.
We saw a 24% increase in need, more families, seniors, and individuals who required a hand-up during the holiday season. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we were able to support 151 families and 23 seniors, reaching a total of 758 residents. Each number represents a story, a household, a neighbour, and we never take that lightly.
Here's a message we received from one of the Christmas Feast recipients: "Hi there, I just want to say thank you so much for our hamper and gifts. I was so overwhelmed so might have looked a little shell shocked at the door! I wasn’t expecting so much and it will help us so much. When the lady from the Wild Rose Food Connections told me she had nominated me I felt so grateful but also didn’t feel like I deserved it as I know so many families are also struggling but it’s made our Christmas so special knowing we had some help and we were definitely not expecting so many gifts my son doesn’t communicate in the same way we do but he looked at them and said ‘excited’ Thank you again! One day we will volunteer and help out! I’m sure of it!
What continues to inspire us most is not just the ability to meet needs, but how those needs are met, through kindness, dignity, and genuine care.
Throughout the year, we were lifted by so many moments of generosity and joy. Smile Cookie Week once again reminded us that even the smallest acts; a cookie, a smile, a few dollars can ripple outward in powerful ways. We also witnessed something truly special through the Kindness Chain with the Okotoks Jr Optimist Club, where young hearts led by example, showing us all that compassion has no age limit.
These moments are the heartbeat of Baby It’s Cold Outside.
As we look toward 2026, we do so with optimism and resolve. We envision a year of more good neighbours helping neighbours, more hands reaching out, and more moments where people feel seen, supported, and valued. The need may be growing, but so is the love and we believe deeply in the strength of this community to rise together.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for walking alongside us on this journey. Baby It’s Cold Outside is what it is because of you.
With gratitude and hope,
Pamela & Steve
Founders, Baby It’s Cold Outside
