Need a snow shovel? Ballardites group up to prepare for winter weather

Meghan Walker Ballard

A group of Ballard neighbors are banding together to help one another in case the predicted snow hits Seattle.

The idea was first floated in the My Ballard Group by member Holly Williams. She posted: “In case of snow, would anyone be interested in coordinating check-ins for elderly and disabled neighbors who might need help clearing driveways and sidewalks?” The responses came flooding in, so Holly set up an online form to help organize willing volunteers.

As a recent transplant from Georgia, Holly tells My Ballard that she’s not used to the snow, and last year’s storm took her by surprise.

“My roommates and I were unprepared and had to use dustpans and anything else we had to clear our stairs and dig our cars out of the snow,” she says. “We were able to do that, and even had fun doing it together, but I can’t imagine how difficult it was for people with any kind of physical limitations.”

The form asks just a few questions: your name, whether you want to volunteer to help clear snow, if you need assistance, or if you have a shovel that people can borrow. The last point is particularly helpful, considering the citywide shortage of snow shovels during last February’s historic snowstorms.

“I thought if we organized in advance we could make sure no one gets stuck or injured in our neighborhood this winter,” Holly says, adding that the response so far has been heartwarming — over 60 responses came in the first 12 hours.

If you want to help out or if you think you’ll need assistance if the predicted snowstorm transpires, fill out the Ballard Snow Preparation online form and join the newly formed Facebook group to help coordinate efforts.

The National Weather Service is predicting snow starting Monday, with temperatures expected to drop below freezing overnight on Sunday.

Photo of the February 2019 snowstorm

7 thoughts to “Need a snow shovel? Ballardites group up to prepare for winter weather”

    1. This is YOUR Nanny state honey. Live it, love it. Perhaps deputizing heroin junkies to clean sidewalks would be better. They’re all sitting around just waiting for something to do. Instead of stealing your stuff, the city can insitute another progessive program where they hand out heroin and meth when they actually provide a service. AKA: work.

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  5. Just heard that our very concerned city council is now prepared to fine people and a business for not shoveling their sidewalks. Man, are they pro-active or what. Did they hire a giant staff to enforce this? Did we all pay for huge 4X4’s so these Nazi’s can come out and make more money off snow? This is the stuff that tells me we have the right people telling us how to live and what to do. With all the money collected just from the dumb soda tax they city could provide services upon services. But NOW they tell us to be “rugged individuals”.

    1. Just heard that our very concerned city council is now prepared to fine people and a business for not shoveling their sidewalks.

      Good! Laziness (or anti-government drivel in your case) is not a reason to not shovel your sidewalk. If you have elderly or disabled neighbors, be a good neighbor and offer to shovel their sidewalk as well as your own. The fine is small and they won’t issue one unless you repeatedly refuse to be a functioning member of society, which I know is difficult for you.

      It takes less than 15 minutes…don’t be a douche 👍

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