Thursday, January 28, 2016

More about the anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler of the East Village


[Yesterday!]

Yesterday, we posted about an individual who voluntarily shoveled out a snowbound car on East Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... and left behind a typewritten note suggesting that if the car owner wanted to show his or her gratitude, he or she could make a small donation to Ollie's Place/Mighty Mutts Animal Rescue on East Ninth Street...

And here is the car that the person shoveled out...





Last evening, the resident shoveled out another car in the neighborhood and left a similar, typewritten note...



We tracked down the resident and asked a few quick questions about his or her actions...

On what made them decide to do this:

I like shoveling snow. I know that sounds a bit weird, but I’ve always liked shoveling snow. During [Saturday's blizzard], I shoveled out my car, some friends' cars ... and some other places. I actually put an ad up on Craigslist offering free snow shoveling services to those who were unable to do it themselves but didn't get any responses. So [on Tuesday], I just grabbed my shovel and found a car that was deeply buried and figured I would just shovel it out, which I did.

When I got home, I realized that maybe the person might want to know who shoveled out their car so I quickly typed up the first note, and put it on the car. I added the part about Mighty Mutts because I have been volunteering there for a long time and I’m always trying to find new ways to help them out.

On the use of a typewriter:

I used a typewriter because my printer doesn’t work, I have bad penmanship, and I like my typewriter.

On continuing the service:

So far I think I have done four cars with this type of note, and will try to do a couple more before alternate-side parking starts again.

I didn’t put much thought into this before doing it. But while doing it I started thinking it would be a good fundraising project for Mighty Mutts or any charity. People could sign up to have their cars shoveled and volunteers could go shovel to help raise money. The beginning of the year is always difficult because it is harder to raise money and people have already donated to charities during the holidays, but the operating expenses don’t change.

Shoveling snow is one of the only things I get to do that has a clear start and a clear finish, it is exercise, and I like to think it’s a good way to make someone’s day. Whether or not they want to donate is irrelevant — it’s a simple way to do something nice.

We also mentioned that the post attracted a lot of comments here and on Facebook. Overall, people were impressed and thought it was a nice act of random kindness. However, there was a contingent who found this note and gesture guilt-inducing and passive-aggressive.

We asked the resident about this.

"I guess I could understand how it could be seen as passive-aggressive. Maybe I worded the notes improperly, but that was never an intention. I really don’t want anyone to feel obligated to pay for something they didn’t ask for. I would rather they just enjoy having their car shoveled out without having to even think about it."

Previously on EV Grieve:
There is an anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler in the East Village

21 comments:

Karma Chameleon is a Bitch said...

Maybe if he had included a trigger alert that he was going to do some act of kindness, and also created a "safe space" for people who aren't used to random acts of kindness, maybe all the special snowflakes who overreacted a nice guy shoveling out someone's car would stop their own passive aggressive campaign against him and regain some of that lkarma they lost with all their snow shaming.

Anonymous said...

KCIAB people don't need safe spaces for random acts of kindness. They don't need so much media attention either. It sounds like YOU need a safe space. Give the the non stop commenting a rest.

Anonymous said...

Isn't is a bit strange they are taking photos of the cars too?

Anonymous said...

I can think of someone who's going to be super angry this morning about this topic being revisited.

Anonymous said...

How do I vote for this person in the next mayoral election?

blue glass said...

enough said
thank you snow man for your snow removal
thank you folks that responded with a donation to mighty mutts
thank you car owners that did not respond angrily at having the snow removed from your cars

Anonymous said...

The only people who have responded angrily are the ones who being defensive over the note critique.

Anonymous said...

You all know it could be a woman as easily as a man.

Just wanted to derail the complaining...please use him/her or s/he.

Anonymous said...

Great idea and nice all around

Anonymous said...

He/she sounds lovely and I'm happy he/she is out there! (But honestly, it sounds like a guy to me.)

Anonymous said...

Let's get real here, good deeds can easily come off as grating. That said it is cool to hear this particular good samaritan recognizing that his/her wording might not have been the most graceful. Being able to freely acknowledge one's own missteps is an extremely rare quality. Most people don't do that, instead they double down on the defensiveness and rationalization.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely person! I love knowing we still have people like this living in the neighborhood.

cmarrtyy said...

Where is innocence? certainly not in the criticism of this mench's act of kindness.

HippieChick said...

Anon at 7:46am, I do think that Karma Chameleon was being sarcastic. For which I applaud him/her. And I also think that The Shoveler is awesome. Even though I hve no car, it almost makes me wish I did, so that he could shovel it out. But I think I will make a donation to Mighty Mutts anyway.

Anonymous said...

Bravo Brother! Keep up the good work!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm having the car towed! It's in a bus lane! RUUUUUDDDDDEEEE!

Anonymous said...

@7:46. For real?

Anonymous said...

J'm just astonished that there's ANYONE who enjoys shoveling snow! Well done, anonymous shoveler - and had I seen your Craigslist post, I'd have taken you up on it!

Unknown said...

Amen!

Anonymous said...

How sweet!

Anonymous said...

I have secretly wanted to shovel snow. having grown up in the western US and as a perpetual renter in NY I have never even given it a try. if you are in good shape, why not? the city was hiring shovelers in this last storm, i think it paid $13-14 an hour.