Cleveland Snow Heroes Connects 302 Seniors Seeking Help

When snow blankets Cleveland, hundreds of seniors face a frightening reality: they're trapped inside their homes with no way to clear their walkways.

The city's Department of Aging launched Snow Heroes this winter to solve that problem. The program connects volunteers with elderly and disabled neighbors who need help shoveling snow.

Jordan Abbott is exactly the kind of person the program needs. He bikes around Cleveland despite freezing temperatures, shovel in tow, ready to dig out anyone who needs assistance. "Help someone out in the neighborhood, anywhere in the city, really," Abbott said. "Help out as many people as possible."

The response has been overwhelming. After one snowy weekend, Director Mary McNamara received calls from 302 seniors still waiting to be matched with volunteers. The number shows both the program's success at reaching people who need help and the urgent need for more Snow Heroes.

"They just feel seen and recognized for where they need help," McNamara said. "And those that don't have it, we hear the fear in them."

Jeannine Baudo lives in Old Brooklyn and is waiting for her match. She thinks about more than just her own safety when she looks at her snow covered walkway. "It means a lot for the kids walking up and down the street and the mailman," Baudo said. "And I can't do it, I can't do it."

The Ripple Effect

Snow Heroes does more than clear walkways. It reconnects neighbors in a city where people often don't know who lives next door. Volunteers meet seniors they might never have encountered otherwise, building relationships that last beyond winter.

The program also gives isolated seniors something invaluable: the feeling that their community sees them and cares about their wellbeing. For many elderly Clevelanders living alone, a Snow Hero's visit might be their only human contact during a storm.

McNamara believes the program taps into something fundamental about Cleveland's character. "I know when the snow falls and the temperatures drop, Clevelanders will rise up," she said. "Often they just need to know who needs help, and we can be that connection for them."

Interested volunteers can sign up through the Cleveland Department of Aging, which provides all necessary forms and support. With more snow forecast, the city needs every shovel it can get.