EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Even after three days of nearly continuous snowfall across much of the western and central portions of the state, Wisconsinites have a unique ability to take snowstorms in stride. 

Donning a warm jacket and a smile, Todd Johnson could be found shoveling sidewalks and driveways Thursday morning. Johnson seemed remarkably unphased by Mother Nature’s curve ball. 

“It’s just pick up your shovel, get dug out, get to work, do whatever you’re doing, get kids to school,” said Johnson. 

Johnson, and several of his neighbors, pitched in to help others in the neighborhood. At one point, they even helped a few University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students, who rent a house in the area and don’t have a snowblower. 

“I take it upon myself to look after them. A lot of their parents live far away and they have my phone number if something comes up,” said Johnson.

A few blocks away, Doug Dobson was also helping out. Dobson is 70 years old. He said he lends a hand to neighbors who are older than him, many of whom cannot easily shovel or plow. 

“I help them out and a lot of people walk by here on the way to the university, so like to make sure it’s clean for them,” said Dobson.

Back at Johnson’s shoveling project, work was almost finished. 

While helping dig out after the snow may be a small gesture, Johnson said he hopes kindness is far-reaching. 

“In this day and age of all the rhetoric and divisiveness, I wish people would just take a moment to be kind to somebody,” said Johnson “If one person did that for someone else every day, then that multiplied, I think we would have a different way of life.”