A 75-year-old woman says that she was stuck in her van for days after it was blocked in by snow.

“When I woke up around 11 o'clock or 12 o'clock at night, I saw I was plowed in and snow everywhere,” says Janet Ward.

Ward says that she was parked at Lincoln Park in Newark Sunday night when a snowplow blocked her in with snow.

“I was blowing the horn to tell them I was in here. But they didn’t get the message, so I’ve been in here ever since,” she says.

Ward is currently homeless and lives in her vehicle. She had some food and water with her, but says that she never thought that she would get trapped inside. With very little foot traffic to call out for help, she says that she called 911 multiple times. But she says that she was told that no one could help her.

It wasn’t until a dispatcher called the Newark Fire Department Thursday morning to dig her out. But then the community came out to help.

About six men from a nearby residential substance abuse program called CURA grabbed some shovels and helped to dig Ward out. They also brought her a hot meal.

“We had no idea she was out here…We brought food and the residents brought shovels to dig her out,” says Christina Mascuch of CURA. “When someone is in need, they are in need. And no one here clearly is asking questions."

Ward took off to get gas and medication as soon as she was free. She tells News 12 that she is thankful for the community that came to help her.

“My story, I don’t want this to happen to anybody else. Five days in the snow,” Ward says.

After a few calls to the city and the Newark Police Department, Homeless Services is now looking to work with Ward. Ward says that she is not comfortable staying in a shelter right now.