Snowstorm Acts Of Kindness: Man Shovels Healthcare Worker’s Stalled Car On Hempstead Turnpike

MASSAPEQUA, NY. — As snow piled up Sunday afternoon and evening, most Long Islanders heeded local and state warnings to stay inside and avoid unnecessary travel. For some Long Islanders, like healthcare workers and first responders, travel to and from work was essential. And when travel became impossible, 39-year-old William Kitchell stepped in to help a nurse from St. Joseph's Hospital get home to her family.

Kitchell’s friend, Leslie Bennett, said that he was out trying to get food Sunday night, after a foot of snow had fallen along the south shore. As he traveled along Hempstead Turnpike, Bennett said Kitchell saw the woman’s car stalled out at the intersection of Wantagh Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike. Her front-wheel-drive car had lost traction and wouldn’t be able to go on, Bennett said.

From there, Kitchell didn’t roll up his sleeves, but he did get to work. He got out of his car, grabbed a shovel and started clearing the snow from around her front and back tires. As he did, the woman steered her wheels to be able to move forward once the light turned green.

“She was trying to get back to Franklin Square, to her son,” Bennett said. “She was visibly upset, and worried.”

As Kitchell shoveled, Bennett said, other motorists veered around the stopped car. Some of them honked, one motorist rolled down their window and screamed obscenities, Bennett said.

In the aftermath of the shoveling, Bennett said a friend of the healthcare worker sent Kitchell a message thanking him for what he had done.

“She was in tears,” Bennett said.

To Bennett, who knew Kitchell before he ever picked up the shovel, his Sunday night exploits were hardly out-of-character.

"He’s just a good guy that will help no matter what,” Bennett said. “He’s 39, and he’s just that good guy. This is who he is.”