Teens help clear snow for Kathy Reed House

Nearly 2 feet of snow covered Coeur d'Alene in the span of a week, leaving some senior citizens stranded as they couldn't dig out their own vehicles.

The accumulated snow reached the hoods and doors of some of the cars parked outside the Kathy Reed House, a senior apartment building in Coeur d'Alene.

Three young volunteers came to the rescue Monday afternoon.

Jordan Cruz, 19; John Carston, 14; and David Carston, 13, were out with their shovels to help clear the parking lot of the snow and ice so the older residents would have easier access to their vehicles.

Cruz said the three typically volunteer to shovel all their neighbors’ driveways in their own neighborhood on Hastings, and this was their first parking lot. He said they enjoy helping out in this way, "just to do it."

"It feels pretty good to see (the seniors’) reactions," Cruz said. "Me and my dad, since it started snowing, we were out four days in a row. We were up every morning."

John and David's grandfather, John Carston, has a friend who lives in an apartment at Kathy Reed House. He got the boys out there to volunteer their shoveling services.

Lisa Aitken, community relations coordinator at Kootenai Health, said there has been an increase in emergency room visits due to falls on the ice — not just in senior citizens but people of all ages. She said things like sensible shoes and taking smaller steps can help people keep from falling. For younger people, Aitken suggests taking it slow — no running.

Jan Thomas, one of the seniors who lives in the building, was outside brushing snow off cars.

"Some of these gals here really can't do any of that stuff," Thomas said. "Gotta pitch in."