It’s always the same. I stand at my window watching, the snows falling, and I have prematurely decided to put off my homework in anticipation for that one day. I’m waiting for that call. My sisters and I race to the phone pushing and shoving to hear who’s on the other line. Then the three of us, ears pressed to the phone set, the dull click as the superintendent starts the recording and we know we’ve got what we’ve been waiting for right then, but just for the satisfaction we listen to the whole thing anyway. Due to inclement weather the School District of Clayton will be closed tomorrow–SNOW DAY.

I do what I want the whole night and totally forget about homework. And when I’m tired enough to go to bed I still make sure my alarm clock is set; so that I can wake up, roll over drowsily, hit the alarm, look out the window, see the perfectly white thick layer of snow, then smile remembering its a snow day, and go right back to sleep.
Pretty much every Clayton student has had the Snow day experience. It might be different from my experience, but I’d imagine always enjoyable. Who wouldn’t love a snow day? Snow days allow you to go sledding, skip school, and just be lazy. For all my fellow procrastinators out there, snow days can feel like some kind of wintry miracle that gives you the much needed extra day to finish that big project you have put off.
Snow days are awesome. There’s no denying it. Right? So as temperatures started to drop below freezing and news forecasters started to predict snow flurries, I said to my grandmother one night the I wished it would snow. She immediately responded “No, don’t wish for snow.” Don’t wish for snow, I thought, ludicrous.
But she explained that the 4-6 inches of snow most kids at Clayton pray for, can be devastating to families with young children and senior citizens, who don’t have adequate heating at home. See, my grandmother works in the Energy Assistance Department of the Human Development Corporation (HDC). HDC is a non-profit Community Action Agency based throughout St. Louis area that helps families and individuals in need of financial, educational, and even emotional assistance.
In the Energy Department my grandmother oversees the improvement of St.Louis’s energy efficiency and helps the hundreds of people that come in for assistance with paying gas bills. Without the assistance many people could have their gas shut off during the coldest part of the year. My grandmother was also at the forefront of developing the Cold Weather Rule which most states have now adopted. The law makes it illegal for gas company’s to shut off an individuals gas during Nov 1 through March 31 when temperatures are forecasted to fall below 32 degrees.
I know that some of the fondest memories of my childhood were on snow days. And it pains me to think that some kids won’t have the same fond memories I will. Kids who don’t have adequate heating at home probably hate snow days which prevent them being able to go to school where it’s at least warm. Now I feel a pang of guilt every time I find myself wishing for snow. But, I’ve recently come to the realization that I don’t have to feel guilty. We can make snow days a fond memory for every child if we pitch in to make sure that all St. Louisans get adequate heating during the winter season.
We can all give the gift of warmth by giving to Dollar-Help or Dollar More and bringing warmth to the most vulnerable. There are several ways to give, you can add an extra $1 or more to your utility bill each month for automatic giving, or you can go to the the websites for addresses to mail a contribution.
www.lacledegas.com/service/dollar.php
www.ameren.com/DollarMore/ 