Helps People Give Back (NAPS)—While digging out after a winter snowstorm can be a lot of hard work, the job is made easier thanks to many people whousetheir snow throwers to clear not only their own driveway, butalso their neighbors: Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPED), says he hearsstories every winter about neighbors using snow throwersto help each otherafter storms. “We know of a 77-year-old man in New York named Pat Papa, for example, who uses his Ariens snow thrower to dig out his own driveway. Then heclears seven other driveways on his street just because that’s what good neighbors do.” Kiser says this spirit of giving back and helping out is part of what knits communities together across the country. “Outdoor power equipmentis often the thread that connects neighbors and communities,’ explains Kiser. ‘The spirit of giving remains strong throughout the year. The effect of outdoor power equipment to do good can be seen in the aftermath of the blizzards of winter, the tornadoes of spring, the wildfires of summer or the hurricanes offall. Nonprofit organizations such as Team Rubicon, AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams, Baptist Disaster Relief Teams and others train and organize entire chain-saw crews to deploy in the aftermath of disasters, knowing the goodthat fast-moving sawscan do. They use their chain saws to clear roadways of trees and trim debris into manageable pieces—ultimately helping crews get power lines back up and running quickly. “These do-gooders—from organized groups to individuals like Sister Margaret Ann, who started clearing debris herself in Miami after Hurricane Irma—playa vital role in recovery,’ says Kiser. “They make it possible for their devastated communities to get back to normalfaster.” After one of the most active hurricane seasons on record, the steady hum of generators is also part of the post-disaster landscape. When the grid is knocked out by strong storms, generators stay on, powering the heating and cooling infrastructure, as well as communication systems, that communities need. Smaller units power air-condi- tioning or heating systems, appliances, lights, phones and even laptops. Larger In times of trouble, Americans help each other, often thanks in part to quality outdoor power equipment. backup generators keep emergency response operations and hospitals up and running. Andas residents and public safety officers respond to flooding after a major storm, engine-powered water pumps help dry out homes and businesses. “The reality is that outdoor power equipment powers good in so many ways, notes Kiser. Amid all the stories of neighborly acts with snowblowers and lawn mowers, larger community efforts also emerge. For example, the nonprofit GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops programsarrange for landscapers to mow lawns and clear driveways for deployed and injured military service members andtheir families. In response to Hurricane Harvey, which devastated parts of Texas, gener- ator manufacturers Briggs & Stratton, Generac, and Kohler ramped up production and deployed inventory, technicians and spare parts as close as possible to the disaster zone. “It takes an industry with heart to power good, and wedlike to hear more examples of how people are using the equipment our industry makes in positive ways,” says Kiser. If you have an example of “powering good”—ways outdoor power equipment including lawn mowers, chain saws, generators and snow throwers help people—you can share it using #PoweringGood on Facebook or Twitter.
