PITTSBURGH — This week's snow reminded us that shoveling, heavy lifting that's impossible for some of our elderly and disabled neighbors, is tough work.
"I just think, if they need someone to help them, I'm willing to do it," said Beth Keib.
She is one of the many "snow angels" in Allegheny County.
Keib volunteers to clear the walkways of five of her neighbors in Brentwood and Carrick, like Anna Marie DeBor.
She recently had foot surgery and her shoveling days are over.
"I have a doctor's appointment coming up and I wouldn't be able to get out," DeBor said. "She's an angel. I'm thinking this year, how would I be able to do this?"
Jamison Combs coordinates the "snow angels" program with the Family Services of Western Pennsylvania.
"We received 107 calls from people needing help. That doesn't account for the waiting list we've had for the past several months," Combs said.
He finds volunteers to shovel the walks of their neighbors in Allegheny County who can't do it themselves.
"A lot of them depend on agencies such as Meals on Wheels or other United Way agencies to come out, and nurses to come and see them. And without us shoveling, those nurses and other caregivers can't get in to actually give them the services they depend on," he explained.
DeBor will see her snow angel the next time it snows, but there are 200 others still on the waiting list.
Volunteers are needed in each neighborhood of Allegheny County.
For more information on the Snow Angels, click HERE or call 412-863-5939.
WPXI
