20-02-2025
People of Palermo in need of help digging themselves out of heavy snowfall
PALERMO, N.Y. (WSYR) — The Town of Palermo has already collected more than 8.5 feet of snow in 2025. But, in the heart of the snow zone, members of the Palermo Church are taking it upon themselves to help dig out those in need.
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Pastor Tammie Nipper has been with the church for nearly 20 years. She said she has not seen this much snow hit the town in quite a few years and confirmed the amount of snowfall this winter season has taken the whole community by surprise.
'Nobody realized it was going to be as long and as bad as it got,' Nipper said. 'They didn't realize it was going to be so many days…one day after another…and such an accumulation.'
Then, the calls for help began to roll in.
'I started hearing from people in town that their roofs were collapsing, that there was a fire with entrapment, and the fire department couldn't get in…to the people, was having a difficult time getting in to help them,' she said.
After hearing several pleas for aid, she decided her church needed to step in and help by setting up a phone line for people to call in and volunteer. This week, she is focused on matching volunteers with people they can assist.
'I had a mom and two sons volunteer to shovel roofs, so I have matched them up with a house that needed the roof shoveled,' Nipper said. 'I've had animals that they couldn't get to…to feed them, so I matched them up.'
Others are taking it upon themselves to lend a hand by clearing off roofs to prevent damage.
'Yeah, everyone has been helping out,' Kyren Stock, a 19-year-old Palermo resident, said. 'The whole community is coming together…keeping up with this, especially the plow drivers.'
But the work is far from over.
'If we've got people who have equipment, have time, have shovels…I've got jobs for them,' Nipper said.
The pastor said people are especially in need of volunteers with heavy equipment, including payloaders, heavy-duty snow blowers, tractors and shovels.
For those who are interested in volunteering, contact the church at 315-887-1550.
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