By Stephanie Eisemann, news staff
Donning bulky snow pants and wielding shovels, Northeastern students have taken on the task of clearing streets and sidewalks in a new community service outreach program called #NUShovelsBoston.
Becca Berkey, associate director and service learning coordinator for the Center of Community Service (CSC), said that the project is a collaborative effort of the City & Community Affairs Office, Center of Community Service, Facilities, the NUin Program and Off-Campus Student Services.
#NUShovelsBoston has roots in former disaster relief work.
“Gary Vogel, an NUin staff member, lived in New Zealand years ago after a natural disaster and students came together to do relief work,” Berkey said. “As he heard the calls from the mayor and governor about shoveling, he reached out to see if we [at CSC] could get a collaboration going to provide students with the opportunity to help out in Boston with the unprecedented amount of snow we have received in a short time.”
Liza Ashley, a third-year human services major and co-op at the CSC, was happy to participate for the third time this Saturday.
“About 40 people came out for #NUShovelsBoston,” Ashley said. “It is so great to see the event growing. We tackled a particularly snowed-in area on Melnea Cass Boulevard. We were able to clear a path that had previously been completely un-walkable. A family with four small children had to walk out into traffic just to make it across the intersection because there was no path through a huge snow bank. The community truly needs this.”
#NUShovelsBoston was hosted on Thursday, Feb. 12, Saturday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 21 with approximately 50 students shoveling each day. When the event on Friday, Feb. 13 was cancelled due to freezing temperatures, some brave students decided to put spade to snow without the rest of the group.
“The last event was cancelled due to cold, but a group of us in the CSC met up with Northeastern Facilities and decided to shovel anyway,” Ashley said. “I braved the cold by layering on sweatpants and sweatshirts, and was kept motivated by the enthusiasm of my co-workers. The snow can’t stop us.”
For those who prefer to watch the wind blow from indoors instead of enduring its minus-25-degree wrath, students’ enthusiasm may be confusing. Those who have participated, however, are motivated by the chance to help the community.
“I participated because I saw all the problems that were being caused by the snow and I wanted to help in any way I could,” Calvin Pomerantz, a third-year computer science and math major, told The News in an email. “The snow has prevented me from getting to work several times. It has also caused me to slip and fall a few times on my way to work. I can only imagine the problems it must cause for older or disabled members of our community.”
Even with the city’s snow removal efforts at full force, the unprecedented amount of snow this winter has called for some additional assistance.
“Snow crews have been working so tirelessly for the past couple weeks to clear the roads and sidewalks, only to wake up the next day and see two more feet of snow on the ground. With unprecedented snowfall comes the need for extra help,” Ashley said. “As students at Northeastern, we are just as much a part of the community as those around us. Helping to shovel out walkways and hydrants is just one way we can be good neighbors to the rest of the community. We’re all in this together. Not to mention it was a great workout.”
Danielle Curry, sophomore sociology major and co-op at the CSC, said that she enjoyed the atmosphere, meeting new people, being outdoors and playing music while working. She also sees the shoveling effort as a way for Northeastern to improve community relations.
“In helping with the cleanup, NU has a really valuable opportunity to let our surrounding communities know that rather than simply taking up space in between them, we want to support and be a part of them,” she said.
With the dedicated manpower of willing students, #NUShovelsBoston has been able to assist in clearing areas that Facilities and City & Community Affairs, along with city officials, have identified as high priority safety hazards. Areas of focus were those around the Fenway and the Museum of Fine Arts, with special attention to fire hydrants in the area.
After a month of trying to dig out the city, Mayor Martin J. Walsh was happy to have the help of students and gave Northeastern a shout-out on social media.
“Thank you Northeastern students who are helping to shovel Boston neighborhoods. When we all stand together, it makes a difference. #BOSnow,” Walsh’s Facebook status said on Feb. 12.
With 95 inches of snow on Boston’s streets, according to #NUShovelsBoston isn’t likely to run out of work anytime soon.
“We will keep hosting shoveling events as we are able to support them. The shift is two hours, and the more the merrier,” Berkey said. “And there is plenty of need in the neighborhoods surrounding NU.”
Photo by Brian Bae
