Snow angels' good deeds warm winter hearts

After the December and January snowstorms hit, Steven Torre, 52, revved up his garden-sized tractor and plowed the driveways of more than 20 of his Madison Heights neighbors.

This weekend, he’s bracing to do it again.

“He’s a Godsend,” said neighbor Don Johnson, 74, a retired Lynchburg College professor. “As soon as the last snowflake falls, he hits the road.”

Torre has been digging out his neighbors for more than a decade. He won’t accept money — however, cakes and cookies inevitably wind up on his doorstep.

“I just like helping people out,” said Torre, a mail handler at the Lynchburg post office. “A lot of people try to give me money and I put it back in their mailbox.”

As the inches of snow pile up, people across the Lynchburg area are going the extra mile to help neighbors, friends or people in need.

For Torre, the impulse comes from wanting to carry on his grandfather’s legacy.

“He never met a stranger and he helped anybody,” Torre said. “I just remember as a kid he always was doing things for other people.”

Steve Torre

Returning the favor

At the Salvation Army, volunteer Gerald Lewis, 54, worked the kitchen from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, preparing meals for homeless people.

Last summer, the Salvation Army helped get him back on his feet when he was homeless. He is still unemployed, but now has a place to live within walking distance of the shelter.

Lewis volunteers for the breakfast shift seven days a week, and works full days during inclement weather when other volunteers are snowed in.

“Instead of me running the streets and getting in trouble, I come down here and help the Salvation Army out,” he says. “I just love it here.”

Gerald Lewis

Happy to help

In the health care industry, some employees must go the extra mile to get to work to ensure the safety and well-being of their patients.
At Generation Solutions, a company that provides in-home care for elderly adults, more than 30 caregivers were dispatched across the Lynchburg area on Friday, said director of marketing Treena Koroneos.

Since some clients require round-the-clock care, Generation Solutions employees can be called upon to work extra shifts during a snowstorm, staying overnight in clients’ homes until the roads are drivable.

To make sure his co-workers arrive safely at their shifts, George Williams, a Generation Solutions technician who usually installs personal emergency response systems, is on call 24/7 during this snowstorm to transport caregivers.

“I don’t care if it’s 3 o’clock in morning and someone needs help, we’ll get them to where they need to go,” said Williams, 73, a retired police officer from Cleveland, Ohio.

Living in Cleveland for 30 years, Williams is used to driving through snow.

“It was treacherous, believe me, but thank goodness for a real capable four-wheel vehicle,” he said after six hours of driving on Friday.

Williams said he loves helping out during the storm, and almost hopes to get a late-night call for his services.

“It’s kinda like still being a police officer. You are happy to help people who are in need,” he said.