District of Hope Ratepayers Association came to the rescue of the Park Street Manor on Saturday when they whipped out their shovels upon receiving a message for help.
Ratepayers treasurer Ryan Mohle said they received a message from a board member of the manor which said they were snowed in.
They responded immediately, or as Mohle said, “No hesitation, just grabbed a shovel.”
“I thought it was beautiful. I thanked them very much,” said Park Street Manor employee-resident Gwen McDougall.
McDougall noted as both an employee and resident, she had the added burden of ensuring the manor is safe for its residents. She went out to shovel the snow herself in an attempt to clear the paths.
“I would have attempted, I don't know far I would have got. I would have kept going until somebody relieved me,” said McDougall.
Both Mohle and Ratepayers president John Duff finished clearing the walkways, access to the kitchen and sidewalks in front of the building in 40 minutes, starting around 10 a.m.
“We like to do good things,” said Duff, who noted that seniors lived in the building.
“They needed the help too, right, because they're like a non-profit society,” said Mohle.
They noted that shovelling was not strenuous because they started in the early moments after the snowfall ended.
“We'd rather do it in the morning first thing because the snow is nice and dry. It's easier than trying to do it after it gets too wet,” said Duff. “The sooner you get to it, the easier it seems to be.”
Both Duff and Mohle lived in different areas of British Columbia previously. Duff lived in 100 Mile House previously, and asked if he learned a few tricks from living in the Cariboo, he said there were no tricks and that “shovelling is shovelling.”
Mohle lived in farm country around Abbotsford and noted that his experience with snow clearing required machinery because of large snow drifts.
The Ratepayers will further help residents at the manor by donating supplies for their Christmas dinner with a presentation scheduled Dec. 22.