The St. Albert Dairy Queen is once again preparing to turn frozen treats into warm-hearted miracles.
On Aug. 14, the store will take part in Miracle Treat Day, a nationwide event where 100 per cent of net proceeds from every Blizzard Treat sold will be donated to local children’s hospital foundations, including the Stollery Children’s Hospital here in Alberta.
The initiative is part of a more than 40-year partnership between Dairy Queen Canada and the Children’s Miracle Network, which has raised over $50 million to date in Canada alone. Each participating location supports its own local hospital, helping ensure children and families receive essential care when they need it most.
For Marivic Dungca, a lead at the St. Albert location, Miracle Treat Day is one of the most meaningful days of the year.
“The main purpose of Miracle Treat Day is to raise donations for the Stollery Foundation and help kids,” Dungca said. “It’s a one-day event, and all of the ice cream sales will go to the Stollery.”
This year marks Dungca’s third time supporting the event, and the team has set an ambitious but hopeful goal: $20,000 in one day. Last year, the store finished 15th across Canada for total donations raised, an achievement felt deeply by staff and volunteers alike.
In preparation, the team has already begun collecting pre-orders, offering coupons that allow customers to participate even if they can’t make it in on the day. The store will be decorated with care, and volunteers from the RCMP and even young patients from the Stollery are expected to lend a hand.
“It’s really busy that day,” Dungca said. “But everyone helps decorate the store, and we always welcome volunteers. It used to be very hectic, but now it feels more organized. The excitement is still there, maybe even more so, but now we can focus on the community.”
Staff will work extended hours on Aug. 14, with most staying the entire day to keep up with the expected turnout. But despite the long hours, Dungca says the atmosphere feels lighter, filled with purpose and joy.
“The working day becomes more enjoyable because we get to give back,” she said.
While Miracle Treat Day is just one day a year, the St. Albert location supports the cause year-round by encouraging donations and raising awareness about the Stollery and the services it provides. The funds raised go directly toward pediatric care, research, equipment, and family support services at the local level.
Customers can choose any Blizzard flavour they like, but the Blizzard of the Month usually tops the list in popularity. And though some people may come in just for the treat, most leave knowing their small purchase has made a real difference.
“People should be excited to come here for not only ice cream, but to help the children,” Dungca said. “For me, it’s fulfilling, and it makes me happy to make this happen. This is a duty, to help out, even if it’s once a year.”
As the date approaches, the store isn’t just preparing ice cream machines and ordering extra cups — it’s getting ready to welcome a community that shows up, again and again, for the kids who need it most. And while it may be just one Dairy Queen out of many, the St. Albert team knows every Blizzard sold is a small act of kindness that adds up to something remarkable.
For more information, visit the Dairy Queen website.
