Holiday trucks spread Christmas cheer across southern Alberta

The Christmas Charity truck (left) and the Caroling Christmas Truck (right). (christmascharitytruck.ca)

Two southern Alberta families are using trucks to spread Christmas cheer across the province.

The Caroling Christmas Truck

The Caroling Christmas Truck operated by Sam and Walter Mobis. Based in Olds, Sam and Walter Mobis drive their Caroling Christmas Truck to several small towns.

The truck is decked out in holiday decorations and plays Christmas tunes.

It's not a fundraiser, just a way to bring happiness to others.

Walter says they started decorating the truck and driving it around during the COVID-19 pandemic when people couldn't visit with others over the holidays.

"Just to see the little kids' eyes getting wide open, seniors stopping and staring at us and waving and parents starting to dance in the streets – it's just unbelievable."

They start touring southern Alberta in mid November.

"We've been to Carstairs, Irricana, Drumheller and many more," said Walter.

If there are young children out, Sam plays songs they may have sung at their Christmas concerts.

For seniors, she tries to stick to traditional holiday music.

Those at Mountain View Seniors' Housing in Olds say they love when the truck is outside.  

"We all turn our chairs in the dining room and watch them drive by and wave," said resident Kathleen Craven.

"I've seen them when I lived in town here and it's been great," said Ruth Rutley. "He brings joy to the boys and girls and families."

"It's nice," said Gordon Berdan. "It just lifts everyone when we're sitting there at the window, everyone is so excited watching it come by."

Walter says they'll keep driving the truck around as long as it makes people feel merry.

"I just get the uplifting feeling of giving to everybody else," said Walter. "Smiles and waves, that's all we're after."

The Christmas Charity truck

The Christmas Charity truck (christmascharitytruck.ca)North of Okotoks, there's another holiday truck – but this one is collecting funds for charity.

The Christmas Charity truck is a hot rod painted "Santa Red" that collects cash and toys. 

The non-profit organization is the creation of Larry and Leslie Stadnick, owners of The Stash Luxury Garages.

Larry says he built the holiday hotrod back in 2023 – with the help of the local car community – over a five-month period.

"Every hot rodder loves it -- and little kids," he said. "We've had some little guys that want to sit in the truck, we let them sit in it and we have to coax them to come out."

Larry and his wife take the truck to corporate Christmas parties and various holiday events where it not only serves as a cool decoration, but is also used to collect donations for local charities.

Leslie says they started collecting donations in September, and have already made some deliveries.

"We've collected about 1,800 toys so far this year, which is more than double than last year," she said.

The Christmas Charity Truck will continue accepting toys until Dec. 22.

They also accept cash donations.

For more information you can visit The Christmas Chairity Truck's website.