When a brutal winter storm swept across the country in late January, millions of Americans faced dangerous cold, power outages, and impassable roads. But on Nextdoor, something remarkable happened: neighbors turned to each other. Through our #StayWarm and #StormHelp campaigns, thousands of people posted requests for help and offers of assistance. What emerged was a portrait of community at its best.
Here are some of the stories that moved us most.
The Friend Who Walked Her to Coffee
In San Antonio, a neighbor recovering from a stroke and organ transplant shared a story of reciprocal care. For months, an unhoused man had met her every morning at her walking path, making sure she got safely to the nearby convenience store and back. When the freeze hit, she brought him to the extended-stay hotel where she was staying.
"He continues to be good company and a trusted person to help me when there is something I can't do because of my disability," she wrote. She was working to get him a replacement ID so he could stay legally, and asked neighbors for help keeping him safe through the weekend when warming shelters had closed.
A Birthday in a Broken Tent
In Tampa, a couple living in a tent in an elderly neighbor's backyard reached out during the arctic snap. Their tent door wouldn't zip, their small heater kept shutting off, and they had no food while waiting for food stamps to arrive. The wife's 37th birthday fell during the coldest days. "Socks, gloves, beanie, blankets—honestly anything you can help us with would be greatly appreciated," they wrote.
Two Faucet Covers and a Wheelchair
In Athens, Georgia, a neighbor posted a simple request: "Can anyone help me attach outside faucet covers before the predicted deep freeze tonight? I have two faucets and two covers, but I can't reach them because I'm in a wheelchair and don't want to risk being stuck in the snow."
The task would take a helper five minutes. For this neighbor, it was the difference between protected pipes and a potential disaster. Fourteen neighbors responded.
A Path to the Kennel
In New Bern, North Carolina, a widow of 18 months who walks with a cane due to MS posted about her dogs: "Clear path to my kennel. Have 2 dogs in there. 2 more dogs in house. They're good. I have a deck with 7 steps. Concerned I'll fall on them."
Multiple neighbors showed up to help.
A Church Group Mobilizes
In Mooresville, North Carolina, Rick posted: "I am in Troutman. I have 4-wheel drive and I am the president of the Troutman First Methodist Church men's group and we'll be available to help as we can. There are 4 of us and we can assist in Troutman and the immediate area."
The post became a coordination hub, with 132 reactions and 49 comments connecting those who needed help with those who could provide it.
Donated Coats Find New Homes
In Byron, Georgia, a neighbor posted that they'd collected donated clothing from other Nextdoor users and were ready to distribute: "I have more blankets, shoes, jackets and clothes. I'm willing to come to you or meet you somewhere. You can PM any time. GOD BLESS YOU & I LOVE YOU."
This is what mutual aid looks like: neighbors donating to neighbors, who then redistribute to those most in need.
Across hundreds of posts, neighbors stepped up with specific, actionable offers:
In Apex, North Carolina, one neighbor's simple offer—"I can shovel, offer rides, or pick up groceries for Seniors or disabled folks at no charge"—received 147 reactions, the highest engagement of any post in the dataset.
In Summerville, South Carolina, a woman noted that she and her husband from upstate New York had experience driving in snow and ice. She offered errands, transportation, and added: "We also have 2 guest bedrooms & MANY WARM BLANKETS!!!"
In Lynn, Massachusetts, a contractor named Danilo offered his professional equipment for free: "Is there any elderly people or disabled, who needs a hand on shoveling snow, clearing driveway, please share the word!! Am able to help, I can bring a Skid steer, or shovel, free of charge."
In Silver Springs, Florida, a neighbor opened her home: "I live in Lake Waldena, I have a car, I have space for 1 senior female and a pet if you're in trouble." She included her phone number.
Some posts revealed how the storm threatened essential services…and how neighbors filled the gaps.
A healthcare worker in Concord, North Carolina, wrote: "I'm a health care worker at the hospital and mandated to go to work. I have to work Monday so I need help to clean my driveway. And maybe a ride to work Monday—I got in a wreck last year coming from work and I'm nervous and scared to drive!!"
In Durham, North Carolina, someone needed a driver with good snow tires to take their 98-year-old mother to dialysis: "Usually she goes Mondays from 1-4:30pm, but they will call me because it's likely to be moved to Tuesday." Eighteen neighbors responded.
In Lexington, North Carolina, a young person about to leave for Army basic training posted urgently: "I leave for the Army tomorrow morning and I can't even get out of my driveway... I don't have a lot of $ but I also can't miss my ship date." Neighbors rallied to help them report on time.
Some of the most powerful posts were updates: proof that the help had arrived.
In Boston, a disabled mother of three had posted asking for help digging out her neighbor's buried car — the neighbor didn't even know she was doing it. Her update: "Thank you to Shannon, who shoveled on her own, and Thomas who came by. I was out there all day and somehow I got the strength to do it."
In Stokesdale, North Carolina, an urgent post explained: "I have a hospice patient in my home and hospice staff will not be able to get in here and we can't get out in case of an emergency." The update came later: "This has been taken care of. Special thanks to Angel Puckett and her sweet family."
And in Mooresville, North Carolina, a simple message of gratitude: "Thanks to all the kind neighbors who offered help, prayers and suggestions! A dear neighbor came by and cleared all the snow away. Blessings to all!!"
Across hundreds of posts in dozens of cities, a clear pattern emerged: when people feel safe asking for help and others feel empowered to offer it, communities become resilient. The help wasn't always dramatic — sometimes it was attaching faucet covers, others it was shoveling a path to a dog kennel. But each act mattered.
We also saw what neighbors need most in a crisis: transportation, shoveling, warm shelter, and someone to check on them. And we saw that the desire to help is everywhere — it just needs a way to connect with those who need it.
That's what Nextdoor is for.
To everyone who posted an offer, responded to a request, or simply checked on a neighbor during the storm: thank you. You reminded us all what it means to be a good neighbor.