snowmensch
n. Informal, pl., snowmensch·es, or snowmensch·en (mĕn’shən).
A TC Jewfolk having admirable characteristics, such as fortitude and firmness of purpose when it comes to helping other TC Citizens get through the winter.
I wish I could take credit for the term snowmensch, but it rightly goes to local artist Beth Bowman who coined the title during last week’s #snownami. The TC Jewfolk crew decided to take the idea one step further and started a call for Random Acts of Snowmensch on our Facebook page. It sounds like some of you heard it and responded with the kinds of acts that make this world a better place: somebody put a friend up for the night while highways shut down in Wisconsin, another made a trek to Sholom Home to make a visit on an otherwise visitor-less day, and many of you pushed stuck cars, checked in on neighbors and shoveled/snowblowed well past your property lines. Not that you did it for the recognition, but you deserve a pat on the back and/or a big cup of hot cocoa!
Since the weather forecast today calls for even. more. snow., it seems like a good time to invite the rest of the TC Jewfolk to the party. Here are a few ways to help lessen the bite of the chilly wind for those who could use a day brightener:
Sock It To ‘Em – Drop off socks at Beth El
Beth El is collecting ‘socks for tzedakah’ and they’re a little bit short of their goal of 250-300 pairs. The socks will be delivered to local charity Loaves and Fishes for the December 25th dinner and distributed to each guest in attendance. Warm socks of moisture-wicking material are especially needed (think socks that would keep your tootsies warm if you spent most days/nights out on the street). Beth El will be collecting socks until Wednesday in bins located just inside the main doors or at Aleph Preschool at Bnai Emet.
Be a Good Neighbor
Remember when neighbors were more than just the folks who shared a common wall or a property line? When they were…well…neighborly? Yeah. Me neither. You might be one of the lucky ones who lives in a cul-de-sac where everybody knows each other and you drop off soup when you hear that there’s a cold bug running through the house next door. But chances are better that you, like me, have no idea what your neighbors even look like. Somehow last week’s storm brought my block together as we shoveled out cars and pushed them down the street for the snow emergency. And it was fun. So the next time it snows buckets, I’m going to grab my shovel and pitch in. You?
Ok, Your Turn – What Are Your Ideas For Being a Snowmensch?
Half the fun of the snowmensch movement is sharing ideas to bring a little light and warmth into the lives of others. So comment below on ways that you or your family have been or will be snowmensches in the next few weeks. And if you’re a local organization looking for help, let us know and we’ll help get the word out!
(Photo: jmogle)
Menu
The very best way to be a snowmensch is to clear the snow away from a fire hydrant. By doing this you could very well end up actually saving a life.
@Steve – Yes! The City of St. Paul actually put out a request/reminder last week. Such an important, easy thing to do. Thanks for the reminder to everybody.