‘They’re awesome’: Lancaster Snow Angels help residents dig out following snowstorm

• By Olivia M. Miller/LNP | LancasterOnline

A 72-year-old Ephrata Township resident was one of at least 25 people in Lancaster County visited by angels after Tuesday’s snowfall.

“They’re awesome!” said Dianna Chambers, referring to Lancaster Snow Angels. She and her husband, David, have had them make stops at their home since the snow-removal service began about five years ago.

The snowstorm that started Monday night dropped 2-4 inches of snow across Lancaster County before it ended Tuesday afternoon.

The Lancaster Snow Angels is a volunteer program that removes snow for free, specifically for county residents who cannot do it themselves, such as older people, those who are mobility impaired or have special needs.

Throughout Tuesday, seven or eight Snow Angels, including founders Jennifer Jarvis and her husband, Junior Rosado, both of Terre Hill, traveled across the county to deal with peoples’ snow.

According to Jarvis, 37, the Snow Angels’ clients are from East Petersburg Borough to New Holland, from Denver to Mount Joy. Volunteers provide everything themselves, including snow blowers or shovels, gas to travel and ice melt.

During the winter season, Jarvis said they monitor snow forecasts to plan ahead as much as possible. On weekdays, most volunteers go out later in the day because they have other jobs.

When asked how she started the service, Jarvis said she was inspired by a man she saw on the Facebook group Dig Out Lancaster County, Mike Schmelder, of Lancaster city, offering to help take care of local people’s snow.

“He was just going down the list of requests on Dig Out Lancaster and saying ‘I’ll get to you,’ ‘You’re added onto my list,’ ‘I’ll get to you when I can,’ and I told my husband, I said, ‘We need to go help this guy out,’ ” she said.

Schmelder, who Jarvis said is also considered a founder, was one of the Snow Angels digging people out Tuesday.

Another volunteer, Kole Bauer, of West Earl Township, called off work Tuesday because of the snow and shoveled for nine homes, including Chambers’. Two of them weren’t through Snow Angels but belong to neighbors of Bauer.

Bauer, 23, found the service last winter, but because of the lack of snow that year, he said he didn’t do as much. During last week’s snowfall, one of Bauer’s friends tagged along to his locations, but on Tuesday, he went solo.

“It’s all about staying moving. If you stay moving, you stay warm,” he said. “If need be, you sit in the vehicle and warm back up, and get back out there.”

When asked why he got involved, Bauer said he has grandparents who have people to help them with snow, but he knows some people don’t.

“It’s kind of the neighborly thing to do,” he said.

Bauer and Jarvis encourage everyone to volunteer, as they’re always looking for more help across the county.

Anyone looking for more information about the Lancaster Snow Angels can call Jarvis at 717-327-0361 or message the Snow Angels’ Facebook page.