Supplied: Greg Smashnuk, Facebook

By Abby Zieverink

community

Local purple loader helping plow snow in support of Stollery Children’s Hospital

Feb 14, 2022 | 1:11 PM

Smash & Sons Contracting in Grande Prairie is clearing snow in support of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation using their customly painted purple loader.

For every hour “Snowbell” the purple loader is out working and clearing snow for the 2021-22 winter season, $25 will be donated to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Smash & Sons Vice President Greg Smashnuk says he decided to organize this fundraiser after spending nearly a year in the Stollery with his daughter and family.

“We realize how important it is and we wanted to give back to the Stollery,” he stated.

“Now that the Stollery (has) teamed up and is kind of involved with our Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation as well we thought ‘what better way to do it than try it, keep it more local, and give an opportunity for Grande Prairie to donate?’”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

He says the idea to donate money for every hour Snowball is out, came to him after seeing similar companies around the Peace Region do it with their heavy equipment.

“There’s been a couple of companies that have had heavy equipment painted. You may have seen the pink boomcat that was donating to breast cancer, it sits on the north end of Grande Prairie, every time it went out, they would donate to breast cancer,” Smashnuk explained.

“We wanted to piggyback on something like that and knowing we do snow removal all over Grande Prairie day and night, that it would get quite a bit of commotion here in Grande Prairie.”

So far for the 2021-22 season, Smashnuk says they have raised roughly $8,500. He adds they are hoping to raise $10,000 by the end of the winter.

Being born and raised in Grande Prairie, he believes the community can help them reach their goal.

“I know that the community, once they have something to work towards, they seem to step up and really go the extra mile.”

Smashnuk tells EverythingGP they are grateful for all of the help from several local businesses around the community who have reached out to help support the Stollery.

“This first year, we were kind of trying things new, there was a lot of costs going into kind of rigging up the loader to get it the way it is now,” he said.

If community members have seen the purple loader around town, they may have noticed the logos on the loader. Smashnuk says each logo on it represents the local companies who stepped up to help get the purple loader up and running.

Companies that have helped contribute to getting Snowball out clearing snow in the community include Kenton Schultz at Big Rig Collision, Brandt Tractor, Sunburst Graphics, All-West Glass, Shaw’s Enterprises, Northern Metalic, Steel Industries, LSM, KMJ Mechanical, Mason Chartered Accountants, and PrimeTime Hunting and Fishing.

“Everyone contributed something, whether it be decals, new glass, some mechanic work, fuel, anyone has really stepped up asking how they can get on board and how they can help,” he said.

For those wanting help support, Smashnuk says the best way is to conact Smash & Sons.