In a day and age when so many kids are glued to technology or thinking only of themselves, one Pennsylvania teen has been defying stereotypes.
Cohen Stahl, 14, has spent the winter months riding around his community on his ATV to help plow driveways and remove snow from around fire hydrants. As WJAC-TV reported, these kind actions have warmed people’s hearts.
A local firehouse even took notice and published a post last month praising the teen’s kindness and telling him his actions are “much appreciated.”
“In this day and age, with all the technology, you don’t see kids out doing things, let alone helping out the community like this,” Jeff Marshall, president of the Conemaugh Township Volunteer Fire Company, told WTAE-TV. “And it’s such a vital thing that he is doing for the community.”
Clearing fire hydrants can help save time and lives, which makes the teen’s work so essential.
“I drove my quad that has a plow on it,” Cohen told the outlet. “I would push most of the heavy snow, and then I would fully clear it out with a shovel.”
But the eighth-grader recently lost his ATV when the unit inexplicably stopped working and then went up in flames. His beloved ATV was destroyed in the blaze — but his community quickly took notice.
“Station 610 responded to an ATV fire this afternoon,” Conemaugh Township VFD Station 610 wrote in a Jan. 29 Facebook post. “The young man we posted last week shoveling out fire hydrants in our area in freezing weather was out clearing hydrants again this afternoon when his ATV caught fire.”
As it turns out, Jason Keller, owner of Cernic’s Cycle World, a local business that sells ATVs and other vehicles, stepped up to the plate and organized a fundraiser to help get Stahl a new ATV.
Firefighters and others helped share the effort on social media.
“I wanted to help him as soon as I could,” Keller told WJAC-TV.
A GoFundMe set up to raise money for the effort immediately brought in more than $10,500. The teen, who is grateful for the kindness, said he plans to keep on helping his community.
“I drove my quad for a good cause,” Stahl told KDKA-TV, noting that helping out made him feel good.
Luckily, he’ll be able to continue that good work! What a fantastic example of a teen helping others and, in turn, a community returning the favor in a truly inspiring way. Bravo all around for this encouraging story.
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