MADISON, Wis. -- In what might have seemed an eternity, many motorists stranded on Interstate 39-90 Wednesday and early Thursday became tired, hungry and cold during the nearly 15-hour ordeal.

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Along with emergency and military personnel, any residents stepped up to help.

"I think it's (due to being in) the Midwest -- the people out here help other people, and that's what we do," said Mike Shumaker, who volunteered help on his snowmobile.

And that's exactly what many Wisconsinites did during the massive backup on the interstate.

"They needed help for food and water on the interstate, so we came out," Shumaker said.

Shumaker and 20 members of the Sundowners Snowmobile Club volunteered to help with handing out everything from sandwiches and water to gas.

"We just stopped and asked if they needed anything and then gave them bags of popcorn, cookies," said volunteer Seth Green.

Green, 16, jumped on his dad's sled and hit the interstate to help stranded motorists.

"It felt pretty good," he said.

Green said it's a service his dad would do, if he wasn't serving his country in Iraq.

"He'll probably be pretty happy," he said of his father.

At least seven fire departments, many of them volunteer, also brought out heavy machinery to clear off the roads.

"I was on an ATV checking out cars, helping clear cars, getting people what they needed,” said firefighter Kevin Davies.

The Oregon firefighter spent nine hours checking car after car.

"We found one with a little kid who needed his pump charged for some medication, so we were in charge of that and got his pump charged," Davies said.

Both volunteers said that what matters is everyone made it through the night.

"They were saying 'thanks,' (and were) just happy," Green said.

His father, Chris Green, is due back from his tour in Iraq with the 115th fighter wing of Madison in June.

Many nearby businesses also donated water, pizza and sandwiches and offered a place for the motorists to keep warm.