The NL Snow Clearing Hub on Facebook has launched a program that includes free snow removal for individuals affected by cancer.
Nicholas Hayley
Kicker
A Facebook group has launched an initiative called Snow Clearing for Cancer, a program that offers free snow removal to individuals and families affected by cancer.
The NL Snow Clearing Hub is a Facebook community group for anything related to snow removal across Newfoundland.
Mark Baker, a snow plow operator and founder of the NL Snow Clearing Hub, started the initiative alongside fellow operators within the community.
Baker says the initiative was inspired by community kindness, especially from snow-clearing operators who had a history of offering free clearings to consumers in need.
He describes it as a booking and matching service in which consumers create requests through intake forms and operators are connected based on availability.
No medical information is required from consumers.
“We do have a really secure privacy policy,” said Baker, describing the system as “self-attestation”.
“There’s one button they click, and they say, ‘You know what, I do qualify’, and they click.”
Anyone receiving treatment, recovering from treatment or surgery, living with ongoing cancer-related health effects, or receiving palliative or hospice care is eligible.
“We didn’t want to create barriers,” Baker said, noting that similar groups often have restrictions that can prevent some patients from qualifying.
Baker acknowledges the system could be exploited but says he is unconcerned, confident that most participants will utilize the program as intended.
“I honestly believe that 99.99 per cent of everyone is going to operate in good faith and they’re going to utilize that program,” he said.
One of the operators involved in the initiative is Scott Ward, who is the owner of A-Ward Property Services. His company specializes in snow clearing, as well as driveway sealing, garbage removal, and bulk pickup.
“When Mark came to me, I was all for it,” Ward said. “If people are going through a rough time, then that’s what we should be doing. Helping out.”
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