The brothers of the Alpha Tau Omega have turned their Monday snow day at James Madison University into an opportunity.

Senior Jake Rauh says, "We woke up this morning and class was canceled, so we figured we should come out and we have a lot of free time. We can come out and help the community."

"It's mainly off the sidewalks because it's been really dangerous to walk around and stuff," adds senior Richard Kelsey. "So we've been here for a couple of hours just shoveling and sweeping basically."

They're hitting the sidewalks all around Harrisonburg, volunteering to clear the way for people in the area. Kelsey says one of their big challenges has been the ice.

Kelsey says, "I've tripped a few times before. Almost down a few times today, because the snow drifts outside my door as well."

Rauh adds, "It's really slippery. A lot of the students are walking really slow to their cars because they are afraid to fall."

Ruah also says he knows it's risky being out in those kinds of below-freezing temperatures because of what they can do to the body.

He adds, "It's pretty cold out here now. We've been out here for a few hours. I'm sure it's probably not that good with the germs going around, all the sickness that's going around."

Kelsey says, "A few of us get sick fairly easily, so it is a worry that we may pick up colds and things like that."

Nevertheless, Rauh, Kelsey, and some of the other brothers of ATO agree it's a risk they're willing to take.

Rauh says, "I'd say it's worth it. We have nothing else to do. We can stay inside and watch TV, but we do enough of that."