No act of kindness is ever wasted. Paul Spence lives by those words, and it’s the motto for a local nonprofit he helped create called the Jackson Snow Angels that clears snow for older adults for free. It’s a group effort among retirees, business owners, students and public health.
“It’s always been on my heart to help other people. It’s a good thing to do, trying to help make someone’s life a little better,” said Paul, who is retired from a career in construction and volunteers with the local Lions Club as well as at the Jackson Golf Club.
The Snow Angels operate on donations of money for equipment and time from volunteers, with no paid staff. In January, they received a grant of $15,122 from the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Endowment Fund at Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) to help purchase a tractor. It was part of a larger grant round to foster social connection among older adults in southwest Minnesota, with 15 grants awarded totaling $168,322.
“At Southwest Initiative Foundation, we believe in the power of connection. We’re excited to see the impact these projects will have on the lives of countless individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and well-being that will ripple throughout our region,” said Nancy Fasching, SWIF Vice President of Community Impact.
When the Snow Angels started, they cleared 22 homes. Last year, it was 38, and now 48 households are on the list. While most residents served are older adults, several are unable to clear snow because of illness or injuries.
“We have yet to turn anyone away,” Paul said. “If you’re telling me you need some help, that’s what we do.”
Snowstorm sparks an idea
Paul was eating at a Pizza Ranch during a blizzard in 2020, looking out the window at the Jackson Senior Center and thinking of something his grandmother told him. She said that during the Depression era, one meal a day was a lifesaver. Paul wondered aloud to his wife, Deb, how Jackson’s seniors got out of their houses to gather for group meals when the weather was bad. Together, they hatched the idea of organizing volunteers to plow snow for neighbors in need of help.
“You can have a great idea, but if you want to see it grow you have to share that,” Paul said.
A generous donor, Tony Sadusky, put up $22,000 to build a shop and buy a commercial walk-behind snow blower and trailer. Community members formed a board to support the work. At first, older adults were skeptical that they could really get free help. But when they found it was true, word spread quickly.
The group’s effort caught the attention of Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services (DVHHS). By surveying the area’s older adults, public health discovered winter weather was the number one contributing factor for social isolation among seniors.
Dr. Janette Simon, Community Health Planner with DVHHS, was searching for resources that already exist to help create socially connected communities and found the Snow Angels. She invited them to join the DVHHS Social Connections Work Group. Together, they researched ways to facilitate the Snow Angel’s mission and help it grow as an organization. Then one night, Janette spotted the SWIF grant opportunity online and instantly knew they had to apply.
“Getting the grant felt like a victory for people in our community who wouldn’t be able to socially connect during the winter months, especially snowstorms,” Janette said. “With the grant money and the new equipment, the Snow Angels can mobilize more volunteers. This increases their capacity to help more people and reinvigorates their group to give them the confidence to share their story.”
“You can have a great idea, but if you want to see it grow you have to share that.”
Paul Spence
Students give back
Paul has three goals for the Snow Angels. First, to help seniors save money they will hopefully spend at other places in town. Second, to get youth involved to show appreciation for the contributions seniors have made in making the community what it is today. And third, to help other towns start their own program.
This winter, Paul worked on the second goal, engaging students as volunteers. For help, he reached out to Quinn Landherr. Quinn is a junior at Jackson County Central High School and part of Cottonwood Jackson CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities).
“The CEO program gives us tons of connections. It’s a great opportunity for students to experience what it’s like in the real world,” Quinn said.
CEO gives juniors and seniors unique hands-on experiences to explore local businesses and careers. This entrepreneurship education focuses on helping kids develop as responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute to economic development and sustainable communities.
“The alignment with CEO is perfect. It gives them the opportunity to engage in how programs run,” Paul said. “I can’t say enough about these kids; I have such an appreciation.”
As part of his CEO experience, Quinn led a student volunteer sign-up for the Snow Angels at the start of the school year, recruiting more than 40 students who wanted to pitch in, to the surprise and delight of the Snow Angels board. Students must meet certain requirements in their classwork to participate. The high school’s principal and superintendent have been very supportive, along with teachers.
“It’s a privilege to be able to have this opportunity,” Quinn said.
When it snows, Paul sends Quinn a text. Quinn organizes pairs of students who will spend three hours shoveling. Kids clear exits and stoops, while adult volunteers take care of the sidewalks and driveways. Working together, the crew can clear all the houses on their list in a day.
“You feel a sense of accomplishment and you feel good about it,” Quinn said. “It’s a different type of feeling than you get from social media. We’re building relationships in the community.”
