The donated 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan and some of the treats inside the vehicle (Photos: Big Al's Auto Repair on Facebook)

By Justin Goulet

Family in need receives Christmas van from Big Al’s Auto Repair

Dec 25, 2020 | 7:05 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Once again, Big Al’s Auto Repair in Lethbridge has spread some holiday cheer.

The Lethbridge shop has donated a van filled with goodies to a local family in need.

Owner-operator of Big Al’s, Shawn Hammond, told Lethbridge News Now that this was the sixth year the business has fixed up a van and donated it to a family in the area. For the initiative, Big Al’s teamed with the local Victim Services Unit.

The 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan was donated to the family this past Monday, December 21.

“It’s always a surprise. They never know they’re getting it until they get here. We have the organization that we work with, we have them trick them into coming here, so that we can surprise them with it,” Hammond told LNN.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

He added that they always keep the name of the family anonymous, for privacy purposes.

“It’s pretty overwhelming when they first get it and it usually takes a couple of days for everything to sink in.”

Each year, the donated van is filled with various gifts like groceries and gift cards.

“We fill the van with groceries, gifts and gift cards – gift cards for gas, gas and groceries and also, enough VISA gift cards to pay for their first year’s insurance and registration,” said Hammond.

Family in need receives Christmas van from Big Al’s Auto Repair

He explained that the idea was inspired by a connection in his family.

“The first year we did it, we just encountered a family through a friend of my parents. They had just moved here, they didn’t really have a whole lot, they moved here from another country [and] they didn’t have a whole lot, so we kind of took them under our wing,” Hammond explained.

They had bought a car as soon as they got here, from an auction, that was falling apart and so, as we got closer to Christmas, one of my staff members actually said, you know, we should see if we can find them a van to get their whole family around in.”

Hammond and his staff were able to find a van and fixed it up before donating it to the family.

“As soon as we started telling people what we were doing, they wanted to help out, so they started donating stuff and money and we just put that all into the van, so that it could be just a big Christmas present for them.”

A series of videos chronicling Big Al’s van donation initiative can be seen at their Facebook page.