
Volunteers Brave Snow and Cold to Feed 200+ Families
When 13 inches of snow threatened to shut down Pennsylvania food banks, volunteers grabbed plows and braved frigid temperatures to make sure nobody went hungry. Two men cleared a parking lot in 45 minutes after seeing a Facebook post, helping feed more than 100 families the next morning.
Cory Nulph and Jacob Ritchie had already spent Monday plowing their own driveways and helping neighbors when they saw a Facebook post that changed their evening plans. The Leechburg Food Bank needed help clearing 13 inches of snow from their parking lot, or more than 100 families wouldn't get food the next day.
"I didn't really think about it," said Nulph, 26, who owns his first truck with a plow. "They just said the food bank really needs the lot plowed."
He and Ritchie cleared the church parking lot in 45 minutes that Monday evening. The next morning, despite temperatures plunging below freezing, the food bank served 115 people as scheduled.
Mayor Doreen Smeal, who volunteers at the food bank, had posted the request hoping someone might respond. The speed of the community's answer surprised even her.
"I'm just always so surprised how fast people come together," Smeal said. "You just have to ask and people want to help."

The Leechburg food bank wasn't alone in facing winter's challenge. At the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank, 15 volunteers braved the cold Wednesday morning to serve 120 cars.
"We're all outside during distribution," said assistant coordinator Beth Kendra. "Our volunteers are amazing and ready to distribute."
The Ripple Effect
These volunteer efforts kept families fed when weather could have left them without food for weeks. Food banks typically distribute once a month, making each date critical for the households depending on them.
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank had to close its Duquesne warehouse Monday due to hazardous roads but quickly rescheduled deliveries. By Tuesday, they were back to normal operations.
For outdoor distributions, the organization follows National Weather Service guidelines and cancels when wind chill drops below 10 degrees. This week, one distribution site became a warming center instead, serving the community in a different but equally important way.
Nulph didn't think his 45 minutes with a plow was "that big of a deal." But for 115 families who got food that Wednesday morning, it made all the difference.
When communities face challenges, helpers show up with snow plows and warm hearts.
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Based on reporting by Google: volunteers help
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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