From Brooklyn With a Shovel

Photo from www.baratunde.com

I just stumbled across a blog post written by a guy from New York who was in Chicago during our big "Snowpocalypse" in February.  I know it's way after the fact, but I loved his story so I had to share it!

In New York, Baratunde Thurston has been known to throw on his winter gear in the middle of storms and head outside to try and help stranded pedestrians and motorists.  The comedian and political blogger calls his treks out "Snowtorious Hikes".   

When the storm hit while he was visiting Chicago, he decided to help people here too.  He went out and bought a shovel at CVS and immediately started digging vehicles out of the snow.  He made his way to the chaos on Lakeshore Drive, and gave stranded drivers water and updates on what was happening.  He even worked with police to help clear the snow filled ramp at North Avenue.  

He was just one man with a shovel and a good heart.  Here's an excerpt from his blog post:

I was approached by a cameraman who emerged like a phantom from the storm. "Is your car stuck back up on Lake Shore?" he asked.

"No, I don't have a car!"

"So what are you doing out here?"

"I'm just a man from Brooklyn with a shovel."

I love that line:  "I'm just a man from Brooklyn with a shovel."  He didn't have any connections to the people stranded out on the roadways, but he still went out to help.  Some may say it was dangerous or stupid for a guy to be out during the storm.  But in my opinion, his actions are commendable.  I'm all for supporting a guy who wants to brave the conditions to try and help people.  

We read a lot of great stories after the blizzard about people helping neighbors and strangers, or "snow saints," as I called them.   Here's another one to add to the mix about a guy from Brooklyn who used his shovel to help a city in need.  
  
Click here to check out the full blog post that Baratunde Thurston wrote after "Snowpocalypse 2011"