Four years ago, Ability Montana started the Snow Buddies program to get volunteers to shovel sidewalks for those who need help. It may not be snowing yet, but around these parts, it could at any moment. The shoveling campaign has connected dozens of volunteers with our elderly and disabled neighbors to make winters a little easier.
Recently, on their instagram page, @heyneighbor.butte, the group announced a new angle and expanded mission.
In an effort to make Snowbuddies a yearlong community building effort, they are changing their name to Hey Neighbor; a neighborhood-driven approach to build stronger connections and ensure no one is left behind. Their post states:
We’re asking you to notice who lives around you. To grab a shovel, lend a hand, and make sure no one on your block is left behind. Because being a good neighbor isn’t about programs of paperwork-it’s about people. It’s about us.
So whether this is five extra minutes shoveling your neighbors sidewalk, or watering their flowers in July when they’re gone, being a helpful neighbor is a surprisingly easy and rewarding way to share the street or block or city with others.
