Summerside woman grateful for Good Samaritan snow shovellers

Pauline Trainor is grateful for the kindness of Good Samaritans after a dozen of them showed up in the night and started shovelling.

A huge drift from Sunday's storm had filled Trainor's driveway and covered the front of her house up to the roof. She estimates the drift was five metres high.

The Summerside, P.E.I. resident spent Wednesday on the phone trying to find someone to remove the huge pile of snow. But many thought the job was too big.

Frustrated, Trainor's daughter, Elizabeth took to social media and posted a plea for help on Facebook. Within a short time, people were in her driveway with shovels and tractors removing the huge amount of snow.

Trainor had gone to bed, and woke up thinking she could hear people in her house.

Two of the women out shovelling went inside to check on her, concerned for her safety.

"It's just unbelievable. Like, you hear tell of it happening to other people and you go, 'My heavens, the kindness and generosity of people,' and here it's happened in this snow-filled yard and I'm grateful for it."

The crew worked for three hours to clear Trainor's driveway and diga path to her door. Two tractors helped with the task, one with a snowblower and the other with a bucket, taking turns to clear the snow. The crew with shovels stood on the banks, pushing the snow down so it could be removed.

Trainor, who lives alone, said, "Lots of people didn't want me to stay here last night just because of the danger factor and all that. But I turned the furnace off and I didn't put the dryer on."

Answering the call

Amanda Parsons was one of the Good Samaritans.

"She was in dire need. She couldn't get fuel. We did not know if she had groceries, nothing."

While the Good Samaritans have sore arms from the shovelling, all agreed they'd do it again to help someone out who needed it.

"That's what we should be doing because you just never know. Someone could be in a bad situation like this," said Leanne DesRoche."I don't know how an ambulance would have got to her if need be."

The P.E.I. government reminded Islanders on Thursday to check on their neighbours after the recent storm.

Valerie Docherty, minister of Community Services and Seniors, said if anyone knew of individuals in their community who didn't have the resources or ability to remove enormous snowdrifts that have accumulated around entryways and in driveways, they are encouraged to check on their neighbours and lend a helping hand where they can.

"Over the last few days I have heard many stories of neighbours helping neighbours dig out of the latest blizzard," said Docherty.

"Inspiring stories of those getting their own homes finally cleared of snow and then making the trek next door or down the road to check on neighbours, particularly seniors and vulnerable Islanders, are happening all across the province."