While most extracurricular activities at schools across Bethel, Pennsylvania, were canceled earlier this week due to a severe winter snowstorm, a high school football coach saw it as an opportunity for his players to work out—and give back.
The weight lifting session was set for January 16 at Bethel High School. But because of the bad weather, the school’s head football coach, Brian DeLallo, decided to postpone it.
Instead, he instructed the athletes to do something else—shovel snow off the driveways of their neighbors in need.
In a tweet, he wrote: “Due to expected severe weather, Monday’s weightlifting workout has been canceled. Find an elderly neighbor or disabled neighbor and shovel their driveway. Don’t accept any money – that’s our Monday workout.”
DeLallo, in an interview with Fox News, stated that the extracurricular activity was something his predecessor, Jeff Metheny (ex-head coach), started 20 years ago as a tradition.
“Jeff had always had our kids do this. Any time we had a snow day and school was canceled, he had the kids go out and shovel driveways for people in the community who were elderly or who were disabled or otherwise could not shovel their own driveways.”
“So this is something we’ve been doing for a long time. It was not my idea. I learned it from Jeff and we’ve just carried on this tradition,” said DeLallo, who credited Metheny for the idea in a tweet.
Students wore winter boots and hats to keep warm in the freezing temperatures. Others wore only shorts and sneakers to endure the mid-20 degree weather.
David Shelpman (16 years old) and Aidan Campbell (17 years old), were among the 40 people who answered the call.
Campbell helped Shelpman clear four driveways, while Campbell did two more driveways on his behalf. Shelpman claimed that Campbell shoveled for around seven hours, while Campbell worked about five.
Shelpman did more than clear snow from his neighbors’ driveways that day. After the exhausting but rewarding task, he and mom volunteered to cook spaghetti for homeless veterans.
“It was a fun way to spend the day. We just kept going until we’d done six houses. Even skipped lunch. It made me feel like I was a part of something bigger than myself,” he told The Washington Post.
The extracurricular activity involved 40 players, including some eighth-graders. They ended up clearing more than 100 houses throughout the municipality. They even returned Tuesday afternoon to clear more sidewalks.
“It’s genuinely a privilege to be able to hang out with your friends and have fun while at the same time making a big difference to someone who would love to shovel their driveway but can’t for whatever reason,” said Campbell.
DeLallo stated that students helping to shovel driveways is a great way for them to get to know the community and why they encourage it.
“This was a good way to kind of get them face to face with their neighbors, doing something that gives back to a community that is so supportive of our program,” the coach said. “It’s really nice to be able to do that.”
Robert Klein, one happy resident who had a clean driveway, thanked the athletes for their efforts.
“I have lived in Bethel Park for more than 40 years now. And acts of kindness like this are exactly why I have stayed for as long as I have, and why I will never leave,” he said. “These young men have no idea how much something like this means to me and it makes me so proud to live here.”
This tradition of kindness not only benefits the community—it also inspires teamwork and helps these young athletes become better individuals. Kudos to everyone involved!
Click on the video for more information about the extracurricular activities performed by the players in the snowstorm.
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