Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
A USD 259 Science teacher and Towanda resident enjoys his winter break by giving back. The man takes his snowplow out when the white fluffy stuff falls and gives back the best way he knows how; by anonymously plowing his neighbor’s driveways.
On an otherwise quiet snowy day, Towanda residents may hear the sound of a small engine rumbling. As they look out their windows to see what’s going on, they find an anonymous man leaving their driveway with his snowplow in tow, just missing his visit. That man is Aaron Waldorf. What they don’t know is he’s plowed 12 other homes for free without being asked.
“I just do it to give back I guess,” said Waldorf.
When the snow piles high, Waldorf bundles up and takes out his garage sale find snowplow and gets to work. The plow was purchased for just $30 but is deeming itself well worth the money. He lives near North St and N Seventh St in Towanda, taking the plow out around 8am and ending his journey around 12pm to have lunch with his parents, who live just a block down from him.
During those four hours he plows about 12 driveways on north 7th, 6th and 8th Streets, as well as some on High Street. It doesn’t matter the age or status of the driveways he plows; he just walks the plow up and down the streets and hops from house to house until the plow runs out of gas. After being in the teen-degree and 20-something weather, he then has lunch with his parents and heads home to spend time with his wife and six children.
Waldorf doesn’t have a trailer or means to load and unload the plow from a vehicle so he just walks it around the blocks himself.
“He thinks it’s fun and gives him something to do when he’s on break,” said Shayla, Aaron’s wife. “He used to do it with his dad as a kid, so it takes him back.”
As Waldorf plows snow, he remembers his childhood years he would spend with his own father, Keith. He served as the Maintenance worker for Circle Public Schools in the early 80’s and would often plow the snow in the parking lot so students and faculty could park safely.
“Back in the day the Maintenance workers did everything,” said Aaron. “So, dad did everything from building clean up to snow plowing.”
In addition to the driveways, Waldorf ensures he plows in front of mailboxes so United States Postal Service mail carriers can safely deliver the mail. A selfless act from an unassuming neighbor has warmed his neighbor’s hearts and saved them from shoveling snow.
