This winter has been the snowiest in the Philadelphia area in a decade, and of course, it’s also my first winter without Chuck. Eight years ago, Chuck was medically prohibited from shoveling snow, but he still cleared my car, swept light snow, and spread ice melt. I tried to shovel, though it grew harder for me. That’s when my “snow angels” stepped in. A neighbor from our cul-de-sac would shovel our walkway and driveway when I couldn’t.

This year, the “snow angels” are working overtime. Four families are collectively taking care of snow removal at my house, and I am deeply grateful. This weekend’s snowstorm brought the greatest snow totals this season, about 12 inches. Yesterday, once the snow had almost stopped, neighbors emerged from their homes to begin cleanup. Armed with one snowblower and many shovels, the “snow angels” helped each other and then made their way over to my house. Once the front of my driveway was cleared, one person pulled my SUV into the street, and people began cleaning it off while others cleared my walkway and the rest of my driveway, making sure I had a clear path to my car and access to my trashcans.

“Many hands make light work,” says the proverb. I don’t think there was anything “light” about yesterday’s work, but the many hands of my “snow angels” got many driveways and cars ready for travel. There aren’t enough words to express the way the core families on this cul-de-sac look after and lift each other in times of need. I am truly blessed.