Earlier this year at the end of January, Charlottesville faced an extreme winter snow and ice storm. Even with city and state resources allocated to 24/7 snow removal, many residents were left unable to clear the areas around their homes. This storm presented a challenging mix of snow underneath a thick layer of ice, which stayed solid thanks to several days of freezing temperatures in the forecast following the storm.
While annoying for many, this meant potentially dangerous situations for elderly and mobility-challenged residents. Without clear paths and sidewalks, vulnerable community members were at risk of dangerous falls and would be cut off from emergency services. In response, United Way of Greater Charlottesville, in collaboration with the City of Charlottesville, released an urgent call for community members to volunteer to help their more vulnerable neighbors remove snow and ice from their properties.
Overall, we saw nearly one hundred community members sign up to help and complete a snow removal assignment! Rod Ballard was one of those community members who saw the plea and responded. Not only did he and his son Gaines sign up to volunteer, but they ended up removing snow and ice from 14 homes! The United Way team received notes at the office from community members who received help from their neighbors clearing snow. One in particular (see photo) mentioned Rod and his son!
Markiana Smith, our Engagement and Belonging Manager who was coordinating the matching of volunteers to neighbors in need, kept seeing his name pop up in her inbox: “Rod kept asking for more assignments for him and his son Gaines! It was amazing to see the two of them continue to help so many in need, especially when this particular snow and ice was so physically challenging to remove. Our whole team was blown away!“
We caught up with Rod afterwards so he could share a little bit more about his experience:
Could you share a bit about your experience volunteering to help clear snow for your neighbors? How did you learn about the opportunity?
My son, Gaines, was home from college for the week, and I’m semi-retired, so I had the time. When I saw The United Way was asking for volunteers to help dig people out, it seemed like a great idea.
How many sites were you and your son Gaines able to get to?
We assisted twelve households off of the United Way list, as well as two neighboring households who reached out for help on the fly.
What was the most memorable moment from all the sites?
To reach the back of one house down a steep, ice-covered hill, we lay down – picks and shovels in hand – and body-surfed to the bottom. Not exactly the Olympic bobsled team, but it got the job done.
Did any neighbors share words of encouragement and/or appreciation with you?
Everyone we spoke with was extremely appreciative. One gentleman even called later that day to thank us and share that he had literally been trapped in his house for eleven days.
Do you and Gaines volunteer/help your community regularly?
I volunteer with Meals on Wheels, and Gaines, a senior at Randolph-Macon, volunteers when his schedule allows.
How was your experience working with the United Way team?
This was our first time working with the United Way, and it was a great experience. I’m sure coordinating something of this magnitude is a logistical nightmare, but Marki Smith did a fantastic job directing rush-hour traffic.
What would you say to any community members who are wanting to give back but aren’t sure if they can/should?
Stop procrastinating and sign up. You’ll be really glad you did.
To Rod, Gaines, and all the community members who volunteered to help their neighbors during this storm, we cannot thank you enough! Initiatives such as this underscore what makes the Greater Charlottesville community so amazing: we uplift one another in times of need! We are proud to be a part of a community that truly cares about each other.