Waterbury teens help with snow clean up

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) -- Hundreds of teens are stepping up to help the city of Waterbury dig-out after the storm. Mayor Neil O'Leary is giving the kids some cash and putting them to work.

All you have to do is ask because you never know how many, hundreds of people will line up to dig you out.

"Why don't you get these kids off the, behind the tv's and off the computers, and put 'em to work," said Mayor O'Leary.

Which is exactly what Waterbury did, posting an advertisement in the local paper.

"As long as you want to keep working, we'll keep going," said Mayor O'Leary.

The mayor promised minimum wage to anyone willing to put in some long hours of back-breaking work, all to clear feet of snow from the city schools.

"I'm happy I even got on the bus, there's so many people out here," said Jose Cabrera a paid volunteer.

Cabrera was one of the first on the bus.

"I was tired the last three days shovelin', so it's just an added bonus," said Cabrera.

The army of volunteers, mostly youth, were divided up to attack different parts of the city. Jose's short trip from city hall was to Walsh Elementary School.

"Yeah, this is too much," said Cabrera. "I don't know what they're going to do with all of this."

Progress was made quickly, each scoop one step closer to getting 6-year-old Omar Singh back to class.

"Are you missing being in school," asked News 8's Jamie Muro.

Singh shook his head.

All you have to do is ask and if you're curious if 17-year-old Cabrera will be back tomorrow, well, ask him.

"We're going to do a good job and get it done," said Cabrera.

When you have this much snow, one day of work isn't going to do it so everyone that worked Tuesday is invited to come back on Wednesday.

The pick up time is at 9:00 a.m. at city hall.