Friends helping P.A.'s 'jam man' out of sticky situation

Long-time family friends of Prince Albert’s “Jam Man” have stepped up to raise the money stolen from him on Feb. 7.

Charlie Squires, 89, is well known for his homemade jellies and jams which he sells in order to donate the proceeds to charities.

When $400 was stolen from Squires’ Northcote Manor residence, one family decided to help the man who has helped so many others.

Darryl Stolmar said his mother used to watch Squires’ children many years ago and he was always a part of his family’s lives.

“Even back then, Charlie was well-known as a helper,” Stolmar said. “He always helped anybody in need. He’d give the shirt off his back. He’s been like that all his life.”

Stolmar learned about the robbery when he saw a news clip detailing the incident.

“It kind of lost my faith in humanity, so to speak, when almost a 90-year-old man has $400 taken from him that he was going to give to Telemiracle,” Stolmar said.

Stolmar’s daughter Kaitlyn decided to set up a GoFundMe page in order to reimburse the money that was taken from Squires.

“With some help from her mother, it’s taken off and snowballed from there,” Stolmar said. “And we’re still getting quite a few donations.”

The page has managed to raise more than twice what was originally asked for. Early Monday afternoon, the page had raised $880.

“This has just been a great campaign because … the community is rallying with him, the money is coming in, it’s for a great cause,” Stolmar said.

News of the campaign even reached Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who promoted the page on Facebook.  

“He’s a well-known public figure,” said Stolmar, “and as this story gets out there to more and more people the money is coming in.”

Stolmar said his family will be presenting a cheque to Squires in the near future. He expects Squires to be surprised and humbled by the donation.