With the widespread impact of snow coating the streets of Carbondale on Sunday, community members such as Jay Smock were out and about looking for the next stuck vehicle to put back onto the road.
Southern Illinois was hit with a heavy snowfall, ranging from 8 to 9 inches accompanied by freezing winds.
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That is why Smock spent Sunday assisting those in need during this historic snowfall.
Smock, who is a dialysis patient, works as towboat captain on the Cumberland river. He moved to Carbondale from Metropolis about three years ago for his fiancee’s work. Before moving to Carbondale for an easier commute, he shared interest in a retrieval group in Paducah, Kentucky, which offers rides and assistance to emergency services personnel and hospital workers. Smock hopes to start something like that in Carbondale through social media. As he awaits a kidney transplant, he said he believes that by helping others during this time, it will prove helpful for him.
“I feel like if you put good into the universe, it’s going to come back to you,” he said.
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The Daily Egyptian rode along with Smock on the morning of Jan. 25 as he provided assistance to vehicles trapped in snow and aid to those in need. Smock drives a Jeep Rubicon, a fine vehicle that he claims has never gotten stuck while helping others. Equipped with a propane tank, ropes, hooks and more, Smock seemed confident in his ability to help anyone looking for it.
Smock’s main medium of communication with those in need is through a Facebook group called “Being Neighborly Carbondale, IL Area.”
Not long after starting patrol Sunday morning, Smock responded to someone in need of assistance to get their car unstuck.
Trinity Thompson had posted on Facebook asking for someone to get her car unstuck from the entrance of her apartment driveway on South Washington Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, Smock realized that the trapped Audi Quattro did not have an eye bolt for him to use, which is needed to hook the car without tearing any plastic. It would take a cycle of accelerating and pushing to get the car out.
After 15 minutes, Smock pushed the car to the road, where Thompson was able to drive on her way to work — free of charge. Smock made it clear that his work is out of pure belief in good karma and that charging people is not something he believes in.
“It almost seems predatory, in my opinion,” he said of those who may be charging to free people who get stuck in the snow.
Thompson later expressed her gratitude for the help through the same Facebook group.
“Jay Smock thanks again! I really appreciate your help,” she posted.
Shortly after a patrol of downtown Carbondale, Smock noticed a stationary vehicle on University Avenue. An ambulance answering a call was trapped in snow. With quick thinking, Smock strapped his soft shackle and tow strap, rated to haul 60,000 pounds, to the front of the motionless ambulance and began to pull with his Jeep. The ambulance was brought safely to the road where it continued its call. A new experience for Smock, as he had never pulled anything such as an ambulance.
While heading into Circle K on East Walnut Street to assist a Kia stuck in snow, Smock was met with an extra helping hand. Denzel “Shaky” Ridenour is a 57-year-old man who said he’s been staying at the Carbondale Police station. Ridenour said he has Huntington disease and is over a month clean from drug use. He had been providing assistance on Sunday to cars that were not able to leave the Circle K parking lot.
“I’m going to do better than I did yesterday,” Ridenour said. “So I try to take baby steps each day, and do a little better.”
While Smock instructed the Kia driver to move the wheels forward and reverse, Ridenour worked continuously with a shovel to clear the bulk of snow surrounding the car.
Before calling it a day, Smock returned to give Ridenour a warm cup of coffee as a sign of compassion.
Ridenour expressed his gratitude and continued to work in the cold, helping others get freed from snow piles.
“The people that have the least to give usually give the most,” Smock said.
Staff Reporter Leo Castro can be contacted at [email protected]
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