The Midwest Krawlers, an off-roading volunteer group, help 400 workers during snow storm
During the weekend's snow storm, a team of four-wheel driving volunteers in Missouri and Kansas offered 400 free rides to essential workers unable to traverse the weather themselves.
The dozens of volunteers who offered up their off-roading vehicles are a part of a nonprofit called Midwest Krawlers, based in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. For the past four winters, the organization has offered its Snow Squad, a team of volunteers with four-wheel drive vehicles ready to give free rides to essential workers, like first responders and healthcare professionals, who can't drive to work on their own.
Midwest Krawlers President Brantley Ping said between Saturday afternoon and Monday at midnight, about 40 volunteers offered 400 rides to workers in the Kansas City area. This is about eight times more rides than what the Snow Squad offers during the average winter season. Ping said typically, the Snow Squad offers 40-50 rides throughout an entire winter. In 2024, the volunteers offered less than 25 rides.
While the number of rides offered by the Snow Squad this weekend was record-breaking, the volunteers were unable to keep up with the demand. Ping said the Snow Squad received about 1,100 requests for rides through its online form, which has since been closed due to demand and more recently, increased weather conditions. At one point on Sunday, Ping said, the Snow Squad form was receiving three requests per minute.
Nonetheless, Ping said the weekend operation "worked out pretty well" and the Snow Squad will be ready to offer more rides as needed this winter.
When open, the Snow Squad request form allows anyone in the Kansas City area in need of a ride to request one. Folks indicate their pickup and drop-off points and times and their profession, as first responders and healthcare workers are the Snow Squad's top priority. From there, the requests are filed into a spreadsheet, accessible by Snow Squad volunteers who pick up rides.
In anticipation for the winter weather, Ping said Midwest Krawlers began recruiting for the Snow Squad last Tuesday, Dec. 31.
What is Midwest Krawlers?
Established in 2016, Midwest Krawlers boasts about 750 paid members, Ping said. Though most of the members are based in the Kansas City area, Ping said club members are spread throughout the entire country.
Outside of Snow Squad, Midwest Krawlers hosts monthly meetings and regular events and partners with area nonprofits, including the U.S. Marine Corps during the holidays for a toy drive.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.