New York state family seeks donations to keep snowman standing through spring

MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A New York state family is seeking "snownations" from area residents to keep their 15-foot-tall snowman standing through the spring months.

Mike Fregoe and his Massapequa Park family managed to keep their snowman standing through April 20 last year thanks to snow donations -- or "snownations" -- from area residents, and the family is aiming to beat their record this year with their 15-foot snow sculpture -- which was recently found to have shrunk to 13 feet.

The snowman, which was started with a freezer-preserved snowball from last year's version, survived a rain storm this week thanks to his "rain gear" -- a beach umbrella for a hat and a whole lot of plastic wrapping for his body.

"Snowman lost a few pounds and needed a little face lift this morning, but the Save the Snowman Team found a sled full of snow in the neighbor's yard and spruced up Snowman a bit. Snowman is still over 13 feet tall ( measured this morning)," the family wrote Wednesday on the Save the Snowman Facebook page.

The snowman has become something of a local celebrity, attracting visits from fans including Miss Big Apple, Jr. Teen.