Ohio Volunteers Clear 30 Driveways After Historic Snowstorm

When Trish Baker saw Lincoln Heights Vice Mayor Daronce Daniels brushing snow off her car Monday morning, she seized the moment to ask for help with her buried driveway. What happened next showed the power of neighbors looking out for neighbors.

Daniels didn't just clear Baker's driveway. He mobilized an entire team through The Heights Movement, the nonprofit he co-founded two years ago to help Lincoln Heights residents during snowstorms.

The group deployed volunteers ranging from 11 to 40 years old throughout the village. Each person had a role: some salted walkways, others cleared cars, and experienced volunteers operated snowblowers and plows.

"As you can see, none of the driveways were done. You didn't even see footprint marks for anybody," Baker said, describing how desperate the situation looked before help arrived.

The volunteers traveled through Lincoln Heights on a bus that doubled as a warming center. With wind chills dropping to 15 degrees below zero, the mobile shelter kept everyone safe between clearing jobs.

Kamira Dangerfield volunteered for several hours, pushing through the cold and heavy snow. "Just to help out other communities and put a smile on other faces and lighten their day and brighten their day up," she explained.

Sunny's Take

In a world where it's easy to stay inside when things get hard, these volunteers chose differently. They bundled up, grabbed shovels, and spent hours in dangerous cold to help people they might never meet again. The youngest volunteer was only 11 years old, learning early that community means showing up when people need you most.

By day's end, The Heights Movement had cleared 30 homes. For elderly residents like Baker, who specifically noted the focus on people 60 and older, the help meant more than clear driveways. It meant knowing someone cared.

"Everybody was able to put that work in. It's community," Daniels said. "That's what it's all about, making sure that folks know that if you need help, somebody in the community is going to be there for you."

The Heights Movement stood ready to return Tuesday if anyone faced emergencies or needed additional help.