Angels needed to help shovel snow for neighbours

By Lethbridge Herald on November 22, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

With winter just around the corner, community members in need of help shoveling their snow in the towns of Coaldale and Coalhurst can receive assistance from the Snow Angels program. 

The Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) is bringing back the Snow Angels program in Coaldale and Coalhurst after a successful inaugural year. 

Cindy Lauwen, volunteer services coordinator said the Snow Angel program aims at encouraging neighbours to help each other by volunteering to shovel snow for community members who are unable to clear their own sidewalks.

“People can get involved in the program by calling myself and there is a registration form that we go through to ensure that they meet the criteria for the program, which is very small,” said Lauwen. 

To be eligible, they must reside at that property, have a condition preventing them from being able to shovel their own snow, and they can’t have anybody else residing in their home that would be able to help. 

“Once they are registeres, we put a sign on their lawn that says a snow angel is needed here. And when it snows, our hope is that people in the community, anybody walking by or driving by sees the sign and be the good neighbor and shovel their driveway,” said Lauwen. 

Residents are encouraged to allow volunteers to use their shovels, ice chippers, ice melt, and any other tools and to have them easily accessible. 

“We are hoping to increase volunteerism, build community and people helping their neighbors,” said Lauwen. 

The first year, the program was very successful in Coalhurst, but not as successful in Coaldale and she believes it was because pf lack of awareness. 

When talking about the reason why they launched the Snow Angel Program, Lauwen said they saw other communities successfully running the program and they wanted to offer it as well and see how it went.  

“We heard from seniors there was a need for help with shoveling their snow, as it’s hard to find someone to hire or company and sometimes it’s not financially affordable for seniors on a fixed income.”

The program will run until mid-April, but those taking part in it need to be aware that if a volunteer does not come to shovel, cleaning the sidewalk is still the responsibility of the property owner, as placement of a Snow Angel sign is not a guarantee that snow will be removed. 

“Volunteers will shovel all accessible parts of the sidewalk and driveway, up to the front door of the residence. Volunteers will not shovel areas of grass, backyards, or alleyways,” said Lauwen.

At the end of each month, Snow Angel volunteers are asked to submit their volunteer hours and those who submit their volunteer hours will be entered into a draw to win monthly prizes.