(Cutline: The kids who helped clean in West Union and Rexville are, from left, Logan Reisman, Kole Turner, Chase Freburg, Garrett Henry and Gabe Mullen of Rexville)
By JOHN ANDERSON
When it comes to volunteering and helping neighbors, no one does it better than residents in the Southern Tier.
From tragedy to benefits, it’s amazing to see people lend a helping hand, bring over any equipment possible, open their homes, cook meals or donate their last dollars of the week at a benefit.
After the aftermath of Hurricane Debby crushed the region, immediate work had to be done. You can’t wait on government websites to open up or FEMA paperwork to show up. There was a three-day window to get actual work done.
It appears the children are learning from the adults. Just when you hear complaints that kids spent too much time on their phones, they do something to surprise you.
In Rexville and Canisteo, kids joined the clean up crews. It turned out the only cell phones were the ones adults thankfully used to capture them at work!
Logan Reisman is 9. He has not used his wagon in years. But he pulled it around town to clean up debris. His friends were cleaning up as well. The next trip home with the wagon was to borrow some shovels and rakes to clear a drain.
Alicia Mullen’s son was one of many who helped. She saw the photos her friends posted and it moved her to make this post on Facebook:
“I want to say something to the world tonight. In the picture below you see five children (one being mine) 8-10 years old in the town of West Union, NY.
This town experienced catastrophic flash flooding as well in the remnants of Hurricane Debby.
They have been out early mornings every day since Friday August 9th voluntarily and eagerly doing anything from helping clear storm drains with adults, clearing rocks, shoveling mud out of a basement and helping remove mud heavy debris.
Over the last two days, they helped unload at least 7 trucks and 3 trailer loads of donated cases of water, cleaning supplies and food donations to distribute to the community.
These are CHILDREN not even out of elementary school stepping up to do the work of full grown adults in their community’s time of crisis!
These are our children and I am so incredibly humbled to know that my child is growing up with children who already know at their young age what real humility and community are about!
Thank you to my neighbors for raising a generation of children who will make a positive impact on this world!
Nearly all of these children have worked to the point they ran late but STILL showed up to football practice every night without complaints.
I think many of us adults could learn a thing or two from this group of kids. We’re going to get through this 
#RexvilleProud Photo Credit to Marsha Mullen. “
The kids did not expect payment, but Malinda Reisman (who bought lunch for workers in West Union and for those cleaning their homes) delivered the kids Pizza King from Wellsville. The best part? They didn’t even think they earned pizza, but they didn’t let it go to waste!
Story continues after this photo slide show:
And then there was this post from Brandon Beers:
“Last night I received a call from a 16-year-old kid on the Canisteo-Greenwood basketball team who said he saw a woman on Facebook who stated she needed help with mud removal from the flood.
He said, ‘We should go.”
Today, 16 of his teammates showed up. They didn’t just show up … They WORKED their butts off for hours shoveling mud, carrying furniture, doing whatever needed to be done to help strangers … I could not be more PROUD of these boys … They are a special group that care about one another and their VILLAGE!!!
They didn’t ask for this post.
They didn’t ask for a nickel.
They wanted to help their community.”
Brandon Beers continued: “The future of our village is in good hands with these boys!!! Their parents also deserve a shoutout!
You did something right with these boys!! You are always willing to get your kids where they are needed and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of you!!! Great work boys!!!
Slide show of Canisteo-Greenwood kids basketball and storm damage:
