The recent snowstorm that brought the South to a freezing halt left many folks stranded, but that warm Southern hospitality burned strong even in the coldest of temps. Out of the ice came many stories of human kindness and the lengths that are taken to ensure the safety of pregnant women and children.
Dad Walks Six Miles For Daughter
We always say we'd go to any lengths for our children, but an Atlanta dad did just that when he found out his 5-year-old daughter was going to have to spend the night at her elementary school. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that [2] "Mark Nilson laced up his boots about 7 p.m. Tuesday and started walking. He walked six miles to the elementary school to be with his daughter, arriving about 10 p.m."
Police Officer Helps Deliver Baby
Many expectant moms' worst fear is giving birth en route to the hospital, but luckily for one mamma, a man in uniform went above and beyond the call of duty. According to 11Alive.com [4], a police officer assisted a father in delivering his healthy baby girl in the back of the parents' car, which was stranded in the snow in Atlanta.
Social Media to the Rescue
Shortly after the chaos erupted in Atlanta, the Facebook group Snowed Out Atlanta [6] was formed, and stranded moms across the Peach State cried out for help — and sure enough, good samaritans came to their rescue. NBCNews told the story of one pregnant mom [7] who found herself stranded on the interstate with her 3-year-old son and was escorted home safely by a complete stranger.
Teachers Take Overtime to a New Level
A teacher's day often ends shortly after the bell rings, but for thousands of teachers in Alabama and Georgia, class went until the following morning. Despite the incredibly long hours, the power of a teacher almost always goes beyond the classroom. School staff all over the South cared for kids overnight and made it more like an extended playdate with movies, food, and fun. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley told KTLA.com that [9] "If you trust your teacher to take care of your child during the day, they will be taken care of tonight.”
School Bus Driver Makes Sure Kids Get Home
One school bus driver put the pedal to the metal ensuring that children in Tuscaloosa, AL, got home safely. The Tuscaloosa News reported [11] that Sylvia Anderson braved the hazardous roads and ran five routes instead of her usual two. Despite the conditions, all the kids made it back to their parents safely, and Anderson said [12], "I was happy to do that because I was concerned about the kids getting home safely."
Kids Get the Ride of Their Lives
As posted on The Heroes of Snowed In Atlanta 2014 [14], some very lucky middle schoolers got the ride of their lives as a few locals rescued the stranded kids in this awesome, hero-worthy vehicle.
Teens Get In on the Action
Teens may be teens, but these two kids proved that they're not all bad news. One woman tweeted [16], "look up, see 2 of my awesome students passing out coffee 4 drivers. Best.Kids.Ever."