Fregoe Family Asks Community to Help 'Save the Snowman' For Second Year

MASSAPEQUA, NY - When Mike Fregoe suggested last year to try to keep a snowman he built with his two daughters, Julia and Rebecca, standing as long as possible as a joke, he never imagined it would turn out as big as it did.

Now Fregoe and his family are reaching out to the community once again to keep their new snowman, which they built after the storm on Jan. 26, standing for even longer.

“It was really about a contest to see how long it would last and it was so fun I wanted to do it again,” Fregoe said.

Last year, the snowman was about 11 feet tall and lasted until April 20. This year the snowman, started with a snowball from the last snowman saved in the freezer, stood at about 14 feet and is hopefully going to last until at least April 21.

The rain and warmer weather the past few weeks shrunk the snowman slightly, but he’s still standing tall thanks to the freezing temperatures that helped to solidify the snowman.

“He lost a little weight but he’s still standing at a little over 13 feet,” Fregoe said. “We wrapped him in plastic and gave him an umbrella.”

Like the year before, the family is asking people to donate snow to help keep him standing.

Fregoe says that someone has already mentioned plans to bring a truckload of snow for the snowman. Last year, the family received a snow donation, or snow-ation, from Vermont.

The Facebook page, “Save the Snowman,” now has over 3,700 likes and is receiving support from as far away as Florida.

In addition, the family is selling “I helped save the snowman” t-shirts with the proceeds going towards St. Judes Children’s Hospital.

“It’s about making people happy and making people smile,” Fregoe said.

Photo: Facebook.com/saveoursnowman