Snow day acts of kindess and photos

Homewood residents sent in pictures and memories from snow work and play on Jan. 28 and 29. Email yours to madoline@280living.com to be included and possibly make the print issue.

As my husband, son, and his friends walked home after abandoning their car on Columbiana, kind people along the way offered them their homes to warm up, food, hot drinks and a place to stay if they wanted. How wonderful to have so many people looking out for each other. Then Wednesday we went to see if we could get my son's car moved, and angels on Columbiana worked to help us get the car moved to a safer location on Berry Road. What wonderful people we encountered! Not to mention the wonderful family that picked my daughter up from Homewood Middle School and kept her safe and loved for the night until we could walk to get her yesterday. I love living in this wonderful city!

-Jill Co-Leader

On Tuesday morning, Sarah Wisely Houser picked up her three-year-old from Our Lady of Sorrows, with her 1-year-old already in the car. As the snow started, she drove a few blocks to the Piggly Wiggly before realizing the roads were no longer safe to drive. She called her husband, Dr. John Houser, who walked to her from UAB. She then went into the Piggly Wiggly to get diapers and other supplies, fearing she, her husband, and their 3-year-old and 1-year-old could be spending the night in their minivan. Patti Rice of Homewood was standing behind Sarah in the checkout line and overheard her tell the cashier she feared she and her family were going to be stranded in the car. Immediately, Rice, who had never met Sarah, offered to walk Sarah and her family to her home about a half-mile away. While there, Patti's daughters Danielle, 12, and Mary Eggers, 14, both students at Homewood Middle School, kept the children entertained for hours. When it became apparent that the roads would not be passable for the indefinite future, Patti cooked them a warm dinner, provided them a place to sleep for the night, and greeted them in the morning with pancakes and breakfast casserole. That morning, Sarah was able to find a childhood friend a short distance away that could further host the family until things cleared up. Patti helped the Housers find a way to drive their car as close to the house as possible while avoiding any iced-over hills, and then escorted the family the remaining distance for their departure. The Housers will forever be thankful to Patti, Mary and Danielle, who did not hesitate one moment to provide for strangers in need in every possible way.

I was stranded with hundreds of others at the Hampton Inn on 280 Tuesday night. There were no rooms available, so I slept on the floor. Several people who had a room came around with their extra pillows, towels and bed sheets for those of us who had nothing to sleep on or cover with. They also emptied their fruit baskets and passed out what they could to people who hadn't eaten in over 12 hours. Everywhere I went, I saw selfless people helping by pushing cars, donating food and giving rides to complete strangers. I accepted a ride from two different people who could get me as far as possible so I could continue to my home. After 28 hours, I made it, but it was only because of the countless people who helped me along the way. I'm so proud to live in this wonderful place that is full of kind, selfless individuals.

-Darby Wesson

A new friend

A senior center member in her late 70s told me a heartwarming story. She was in jeopardy of developing frostbite while walking home up a steep hill with her neighbor/friend in the snow. With cold, wet feet and a feeling of desperation, they accepted a ride home from a stranger who pulled up to offer help, despite the fact that he looked and sounded foreign. It turned out that he lived on their street and said he'd just spent several hours retrieving his sons from their private school. She asked where he was from. "Jordan," he replied. A little wary, she asked if he was a Christian and he said, "No, I'm Muslim." She said, " I don't ever want to hear anybody talk badly about Muslims again. You're an angel!" Her neighbor exchanged names/phone numbers with the Muslim man so they could follow up in better weather to get better acquainted later with their new friend.

-Aimee Thornton