Hannah Wolfgang had hired someone to plow and shovel her driveway Monday after the storm, but when he didn’t show, she turned to Facebook, posting in the group Moms of Fairfield.
“Shoveling help needed! Special needs caregiver needs to get in driveway by 7 am tomorrow. Can anyone help?” Wolfgang posted.
Wolfgang’s daughter, 10-year-old River, has profound nonverbal autism and needs constant care. The concern was that care wouldn’t be able to get to River early Tuesday unless someone in the community stepped up.
Bridget McNamara, a local mom whose family has been hosting three hockey players for the season, saw the plea.
“The boys had just come in from shoveling all the neighbors’ walks. I said, ‘Hey guys. You want to go out and do one more?’” McNamara recalled.
The answer was yes.
Cam Gardner, 20, of Southbury, 18-year-old Daniel Ragsdale, of Alaska, and 19-year-old Sultan Kulumbek, of Kazakhstan, arrived at Wolfgang’s home close to 10 p.m. and spent about two hours working.
“These guys, I mean, they showed up. They were happy, smiling, they were just, you know, all about it,” Wolfgang told News 12.
“They were exhausted, but they still went out and helped her out,” McNamara added. “They’re good kids.”
The players certainly didn't do it for the glory. They were too shy to speak with News 12 on camera and let McNamara do the talking. But their hard work was more than appreciated. “Being in the special needs community, we need a village,” Wolfgang stated. “Fairfield’s special, and we’re lucky.”