The Bonnyville and District FCSS has put a call out for Snow Angels.
“We’re encouraging people to be good neighbours, and find a sidewalk that needs an angel, and to be the angel for that sidewalk,” explained David Beale, director of community services for the Bonnyville FCSS.
Through the program, residents offer a helping hand throughout the winter months to those who may not be able to shovel their driveways and sidewalks.
“A lot of times, it’s a senior citizen who’s finding it more and more difficult to get out and shovel the sidewalk, but not necessarily,” Beale detailed. “It could be a person with some form of a disability, or it could be a young, single mom with a newborn baby… It can be somebody who just had surgery, and normally they’re able to do it, but now they’re recovering and it’s made it difficult for them to do that.”
Signs, which can be picked up at FCSS, are placed in the yards of residents requesting a Snow Angel’s assistance.
Beale noted this annual campaign is one way you can get to know people in the area, and be a hero for those in need.
“Do the thing we’ve always done as good neighbours, and just know your neighbour. Figure out who needs a helping hand, and be that helping hand. Snow Angels is obviously the most common one, but it doesn’t hurt to help the whole year round, but the wintertime is one that really is easily done. You can clearly see when the snow needs shoveling, and just get out there and do it,” he continued.
Although FCSS has received phone calls from those requiring help over the three years the program has been running, that’s not exactly how the it works.
“People think we have an army of Snow Angels in our back room, and we dispatch them to sidewalks that need help. We don’t do that, and we don’t have an army of Snow Angels to do that kind of work,” Beale said. “A Snow Angel is strictly an unsung hero and volunteer who gets out there and does it on their own.”
Since Snow Angels was introduced in the community, Beale has heard rave reviews from those who have the signs on their lawns.
“It’s heartening when we hear from a senior that says, ‘oh, I have an angel and I don’t know who it is.’ It’s like their secret Tooth Fairy that shows up in the middle of the night, and does their sidewalk. That’s perfect. That’s the glory story that we want to hear, and we do hear that now and then.”
The call for volunteers didn’t just go out for the Town and MD of Bonnyville. The Cold Lake and District FCSS is also encouraging residents to pull on their hats and gloves to help out those with signs.
“The entire project relies on community volunteerism,” stressed Leanne Draper, volunteer services program facilitator for the Cold Lake FCSS. “The idea is you’re out and about shoveling your own property, and you go ,’hey, my neighbour has that sign and they need some help.’”
Similar to the Bonnyville initiative, residents don’t have to sign-up to be a Snow Angel, however, Draper encourages students to speak with her if they’re working on their community service hours.
For more information on how to get a sign, call the Bonnyville FCSS at 780-826-2120 or the Cold Lake FCSS at 780-594-4495.
