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Published December 22, 2008 04:18 pm - Steady snow taxes volunteer shovelers Brian Ojanpa CNHI News Service MANKATO, Minn. -- Fred Miller and his crew are to a snowy driveway what a SWAT team is to a house of bad guys. Which is to say, they hit hard and finish fast. “We try to average 6 to 10 minutes per house, and we come pretty close,” said Miller, chore coordinator for VINE Faith in Action. The interfaith group volunteers caregiving and support services to the elderly, disabled and families in need in two southern Minnesota counties, Blue Earth and Nicollet. VINE volunteers have provided free snow removal each winter since 1995. When there’s even 2 inches of snow, out they go. And demand exceeds supply. “We have 70 people on our list, and we have to cap it off because we’re pretty maxed out,” said VINE director Pam Determan. More people could be served if volunteer numbers were greater. Miller began the winter with eight or 10 volunteers. Recent publicity about the program netted another eight or so. A youth hockey group is signed up to shovel in January. 
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