These are your #LocalHeroes — ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Sweetwater County. This SweetwaterNOW series highlights those often unnoticed acts of kindness to the incredible actions of many in our community.

Sometimes all it takes to become a hero to someone else is something as simple as shoveling their driveway on a cold day.

This kind gesture has been made over and over again by one Rock Springs family. Kell, Brodie and their father Justin Boren have been shoveling snow in their neighbors driveways for years.

Kell, who is now a Rock Springs High School student, said he started helping his father shovel snow when he was 6 or 7 years old.

“My dad and I usually do a few neighbors walks when we do ours,” Kell said.

Brodie, who is a Walnut Elementary School Student, joined them when he was old enough to wield a shovel.

The family’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, even though they don’t want any attention for it, and neighbors wanted to give credit where credit is due. Justin, Kell and Brodi just shovel their neighbors’ driveways and then leave. They are sort of snow shoveling ninjas.

“We just shoveled and left,” Bodie said.

Once in a while, the snow ninjas would get caught by a neighbor who would tell them thank you, but usually they operate in stealth mode.

Passing on the Tradition

“My father would have me help him shovel our elderly neighbors’ walks when I was growing up, and I have tried to pass it on to my kids,” Justin said.

Justin said he and his boys try to shovel as many neighbors walks as they can after a snow storm.

“We used to do a lot more when I had a snowblower, but I gave it to someone who needed it more,” Justin said.

For a father, it’s passing on a family tradition and helping others all at the same time. Kell said the snow shoveling felt good and it was hard to find the words to describe how he felt after completing the work. The family was just doing a good deed, he said.

“I was happy to help people who need it,” Brodie said.

The family plans to continue shoveling snow where it’s needed in their neighborhood throughout winter, however they know other people in different neighborhoods could use help.

There are more people in need this winter than three shovels can handle. Please encourage others in the community to do a neighbor’s walk who is unable to do their own. A small act of kindness goes a long way when health or age catches up with us.

~Justin Boren

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