BETHEL PARK, Pa. — A football coach in Pennsylvania canceled his team’s scheduled weightlifting session on Monday after a snowstorm blanketed the eastern part of the country.
When there’s a snow day or school is closed, Bethel Park football players typically meet in the workout room at 9 a.m. But instead of hitting the gym on Monday, the team hit nearby neighborhoods to help dig people out of the snow.
“It brought tears to my eyes, and I just feel like it’s a really great thing for them to do on their day off,” said Bethel Park resident Greg Hardy.
Hardy was getting ready to shovel his driveway when he was surprised that it was already being done for him.
“My wife said, ‘You don’t have to bother.’ And I said, ‘Why not?’ I looked outside and there they were, two snowblowers and five young gentlemen,” Hardy said.
They were all players from the football team who were just following orders from their coach, Brian DeLallo.
DeLallo, who’s both a football coach and teacher at Bethel Park High School, tweeted out that Monday’s weightlifting workout was canceled and to find an elderly or disabled neighbor who needs their driveway shoveled. He specified that this was an act of kindness, saying the team shouldn’t accept any money for their service.
“If you go on Twitter, you see high schools all over western Pennsylvania doing this. I think it says more about the kids and coaches involved in our game and gets kids out to help our community. That’s what it’s all about,” DeLallo said.
The players took their workout seriously and went door to door throughout their neighborhoods.
“We have been going house to house around the neighborhood seeing who still needs their driveway shoveled, and we tell them we will do it for free,” said freshman Jack Bruckner.
It was a workout that the team welcomed.
DeLallo said his players were texting photos of each other clearing driveways, one after another, first thing in the morning.
“It’s great to see the kids buy-in and get out there. They’ll shovel all morning, and then, hopefully, they’ll go sled riding in the afternoon and get to be kids,” DeLallo said.
And for neighbors like Greg Hardy, he’s now forever a Bethel Park football fan.
“They wouldn’t take anything! And I wanted to tell them, ‘Next fundraiser, put me down for whatever they need!’ It just made my day,” Hardy said.
The good news here is a coach, and his team made a difference. Today’s JohnKu talks about service. I hope you have a great weekend.
Service by John W. Howell © 2022
A coach takes the lead,
His team makes his word golden . . .
Service looks like this.
Fiction Favorites 
A special story to share, John. ❤
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Thank you, Jane. ❤️
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More than cool! What a wonderful way to care for each other.
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I agree, Annette. Reminds me of all your angel messages. 😊
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This is wonderful, John! Happy Friday!❤️
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Wishing you a fabulous Friday as well, Jill. Thanks. ❤️
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Wonderful story, John. That’s a coach that’s teaching his players something a lot more valuable than just playing football.
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I agree, Joan. He is an impressive human being. 😁
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My husband and I saw this story on the news and had the same reaction. It gave us such a lift!
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I just had to run it. I got a lift too.😊
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I’m glad you did!
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😁
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Thanks for sharing this good news story. The coach is giving the young folks a life lesson that will serve them well.
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The nice thing is they all will feel good about helping others. Thanks, Darlene.
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That’s a wonderful story, and not a bad workout for them.
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Lifting that snow would be a great workout.Thanks, Craig.
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This is fantastic!!
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I agree, GP. A good man that coach.
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Cool. Don’t see teenagers shoveling driveways around here when it snows.
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Might be a good thing for them to do. 😁
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Maybe. We don’t have any on our block, so that might be it too. That and I noticed retirees are out shoveling before the sun comes up.
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You know how it is for a vampire.
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Too cold for capes?
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Hahaha.
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Brilliant coach!! The teens got their exercise and learned through the process, and the team now has faithful followers. Absolutely brilliant. I love this post, John, and your haiku is the frosting on the cake! ❄❄⛄❄❄
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Thank you, Gwen. I was so impressed with the story that I put it in when I had another already scheduled. Now I’m ahead for next week. The cake is good. 🤗
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Now THIS is a beautiful thing! People talk about youths being lazy… proof they are not.
Wonderful Friyay JohnKu!
Happy Friday to you, sir!
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Thank you, Dale. Happy Friday to you as well. 🤗
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Thank you! It’s a bloody cold one!! Feels like -22°F!
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Yikes. I would die.
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Let’s just not test that, okay?
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Okay. 🤣
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Good! You stay nice and warm!
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Old fart.
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No, no, no… distinguished gent who deserves to keep his bones warm…
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Ah yes. Thank you. 🤣
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My pleasure 🙂
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I think that’s great, John. It’s good to see people doing thinks to help others and having a good time doing it. Thanks for posting this. It made me smile. 🙂
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I’m glad, Tim.
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Reblogged this on T. W. Dittmer and commented:
This gave me a warm feeling on a chilly morning.
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So nice. Thank you Tim.
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Life lessons given by a great coach. A win-win situation.
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So true. Thanks, Teri.
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I read about this in the Pittsburgh news that I follow, John. It’s a great story to share.
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Thanks Dan.
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I’m so glad this story made the national news. I’ve seen it because it’s local to me, but this coach and these kids deserve the national recognition. As someone who’s had her walk and car taken care of by neighbors, I know what a blessing it is to have the help.
Another wonderful Fri-yay. Thanks, John.
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I thought of you when I saw the story. Thanks, Staci.
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This is such a good story, John! Such a beautiful lesson too. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you Mar.
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Another great story, John. What a great workout for the guys and a lesson to give back to their community. Cold here but no snow, not even frost on the roof. TGIF to you! Stay safe and warm.
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Yes we only got a little sleet. Nothing you could pick up.
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I heard this report on the news and found it a wonderful story. Teaching young people how to serve via leading by example seems to be the best way to go. I’ve long thought high school service clubs should undertake similar projects — raking leaves in the fall, putting up and taking down Christmas decorations, pulling weeds in the spring, etc. Would be helpful to those who can’t do such work for themselves. Thanks for your part in re-publicizing it, John.
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Thank you, Debbie. It was a pleasure. 😁
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This is such a great story, for so many reasons. What’s interesting is that it probably helped with team-building, along with all the other good it did. It may have helped a few of those kids realize that working together as a team to achive a goal works off the football field, too.
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I think all of that, Linda. Thanks.
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I love this! And what a great lesson to the young men on the team. This coach should be celebrated! Thank you for sharing, John!
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I think he has received a lot of praise.
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This warmed my heart. Great coach to impart this lesson of giving.
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Thank you, Denise. 😁
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Adversity can bring out the best in people.
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It can and usually does.
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What a wonderful idea.
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It is, Luanne. 😁
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What a great feel-good story, John. Clearing driveways and spreading cheer! Great share.
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Thanks, Diana
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Great way to build character while helping others. Our son coaches college football, and I know the coaches always organize a couple of days during the year where they’re helping the community.
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Sounds great, Pete
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I LOVE this, John! The perfect thing to lift my spirits tonight … these guys, both students and coach, are truly good people! Thank you!
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I think we all got a lift out of this one. Thanks, Jill.
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Glad I came back for this on Saturday. Fabulous – and to think some of those players will pass along the lesson learned in their future!
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True enough, Frank.
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Fantastic Friyay post! What a wonderful thing to do. Thanks for the uplift. Have a great weekend 💕🙂
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You have a great weekend as well, Harmony.
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That’s a marvelous story!
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It is Deborah. 😁
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Saw this on the news – it does the heart good!
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Yes it does. Thanks, Noelle.
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Another lovely story, John! So glad you share these! And you’re fab with those JohnKus! 🙂
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AW thank you, Betsy. 😊
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My pleasure. 🙂
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😊
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Wonderful story!
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😊
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You hear the phrase “Leader of young men” used far too often in college football, for coaches who don’t deserve the kudos. But this man, he deserved the kudos and then some.
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He does. Thanks, Marc.
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Great story Boss
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