Residents Pose Nude for Calendar to Raise Snow Removal Funds

With less than a month left in 2026, a series of calendar-related products for the coming year are being released. Among them, a small town in the United States has drawn attention as residents volunteered to pose for a nude calendar to raise funds for snow removal. On December 10 (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported the story of how the residents of Lakeview, Oregon, worked together to create a nude calendar.

Nude calendar created collaboratively by residents of Lakeview Village, Oregon, USA. WSJ

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During winter, the residents of Lakeview face inconvenience due to snow piling up on the roads. Above all, the town's budget is insufficient to cover snow removal. They needed funds to purchase equipment and hire outside contractors, but it was difficult to secure additional financial resources. While discussing ways to raise money, the residents came up with the idea of making a nude calendar. This idea was inspired by the 2003 film "Calendar Girls," which is based on the true story of British women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for a hospital.

When Margot Doze first presented this proposal at a town meeting this summer, the response from residents was lukewarm. One city council member expressed skepticism, saying, "Will the residents really step up as models?" However, once the idea was adopted, volunteers came forward more easily than expected. Jess Calvin, a city council member who planned the nude calendar with Doze, persuaded others to participate by sharing an anecdote about his son dancing shirtless in a bar. His son, who runs a construction company, appeared as the June model, posing while cutting down a tree. Alan Munhall, the September model, posed in the garden with a harvest basket around his waist, with his wife serving as the photographer. So far, Lakeview has raised about $13,000 (approximately 19 million won) through calendar sales. Due to coverage in local media and increased demand for year-end gifts, several additional print runs have been ordered. The calendar is priced at $32, but some buyers have paid $100 as a donation.

Currently, Lakeview is experiencing a severe financial crisis. The town's finances have been depleted due to poor budget management and a series of bankruptcies among large companies. Although the town is similar in size to the state of New Jersey, most of its land is federally owned, making it difficult to secure tax revenue. Last summer, the town even faced the risk of handing over its self-governing authority to the state government due to a lack of funds. In response, residents have taken independent measures, such as voluntarily increasing surcharges on water bills. Especially with the popularity of this year's nude calendar, the town plans to launch similar projects, such as another calendar, next year. According to WSJ, the theme for next year's calendar will be a combination of nude models and classic cars.

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