A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania high school football team is going viral after their coach canceled practice to shovel their neighbors’ driveways for free.
Bethel Park High School Football Coach Brian DeLallo made the announcement on Jan. 16 and 40-some players went out and shoveled for hours.
“Due to expected severe weather, Monday’s weightlifting workout has been cancelled,” the coach tweeted. “Find an elderly or disabled neighbor and shovel their driveway. Don’t accept any money – that’s our Monday workout.”
After DeLallo’s tweet went viral, he was quick to give credit to former head coach Jeff Metheny who started the tradition more than 20 years ago.
“This received much more attention than we ever expected,” he said. “I must give any credit for the idea to Jeff Metheny, who was Head Football Coach at Bethel Park for 25 years before me. We are simply carrying on 1 of the many great traditions he established. Thanks, Coach Metheny!”
The coach told Fox News Bethel Park High School football players David Shelpman, 16, and Aidan Campbell, 17, were among about 40 athletes who shoveled snow.
The pair shoveled four driveways together and worked for more than five hours.
Shelpman told Fox News the annual tradition “makes me feel like a part of something bigger than myself. I definitely always do feel good about being able to help others out.”
DeLallo said the players were so eager to help that they went out early.
“I woke up to texts. They said, ‘Hey coach we got three driveways in, heading to our fourth now,'” DeLallo said. “It’s not something where our kids groaned; they did it (and) loved it. I’m lucky to coach in a community that is very supportive of our program and has great kids that really want to be part of something like this.”
Bethel Park resident Robert Klein told the outlet he was overwhelmed by the team’s outreach.
“I have lived in Bethel Park for more than 40 years now and acts of kindness like this are exactly why I have stayed for as long as I have and why I will never leave,” Klein said. “These young men have no idea how much something like this means to me and it makes me so proud to live here.”
Caleb Parke is the managing editor for ToddStarnes.com. Follow him on GETTR, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and connect with him at calebparke.com.
