Cleveland's Snow Heroes Match 82 Seniors with Volunteers

When Linda Bradley's husband passed away recently, the 70-something Cleveland resident wondered how she'd manage winter on her own with heart and eye health challenges. Then a teenager named Sean McNamara showed up at her door with a shovel.

He's part of Snow Heroes, a program Cleveland launched in December that matches volunteers with seniors and people with disabilities who need help clearing snow. Within 48 hours of three or more inches falling, volunteers head out to shovel driveways, porches, and sidewalks for neighbors who can't do it themselves.

Sean, a junior at St. Ignatius High School, spends just 20 to 25 minutes clearing Bradley's walkways. For her, it means the difference between staying trapped at home or getting where she needs to go safely.

"I couldn't do it," Bradley said. "I'd be snowed in if that was the case."

The program addresses a serious safety concern for older adults. Shoveling causes thousands of heart attacks each year, and icy walkways lead to dangerous falls. The city already provides snow removal for about 1,000 residents through city workers and contractors, but Snow Heroes extends that help through volunteer power.

Mary McNamara, director of the city's Department on Aging, said 82 seniors have been matched with about 60 volunteers so far. Some volunteers help more than one resident in their neighborhoods.

"It's about protecting people's hearts. It's about fall prevention," Mary said. "It's also about keeping sidewalks clear for everybody."

The city makes volunteering easy by paying for background checks. Schools, church groups, and neighborhood organizations can sign up their members together.

Sunny's Take

Bradley calls Sean "an angel," but he's quick to point out that heroism doesn't require superpowers. He just shows up with a shovel and spends less time than it takes to watch a sitcom.

That simple act gives Bradley her independence back during one of the hardest winters of her life. She has a clear path to her car and a dependable neighbor she can count on.

Cleveland needs 82 more volunteers to match the number of seniors already waiting for help, Mary said. As word spreads about the program, more people are discovering how good it feels to be someone's Snow Hero.

The city hopes this first winter will prove that neighbors helping neighbors can turn the coldest season into the warmest.