Somerville Seeks Shoveling Volunteers to Help Seniors
Teens could receive a small stipend for shoveling.
Photos
After heavy snowfall throughout February, Somerville is expecting, well, more snow.
All this snow is difficult for senior citizens to shovel, and the city is asking for volunteers to help their older neighbors. Also, if you're a senior who could use a little help shoveling—it's not worth throwing your back out to shovel a sidewalk when a local teen could possibly earn a small stipend to do it—let the city know.
Below is information from the city:
Are you looking for ways to help your neighbors this winter? Are you a Somerville senior citizen or a resident with disabilities who needs assistance with shoveling? The City of Somerville is seeking volunteers aged 18 and older to assist senior citizens and residents with disabilities with snow shoveling this winter, and accepting applications for residents needing assistance with shoveling. The Somerville Council on Aging and SomerServe, the City’s volunteer program, currently maintain a database of volunteers, but with one of the most snowy Februaries on record, more volunteers are needed to assist with storm cleanup for residents who are unable to do so. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Nancy Bacci at NBacci@somervillemagov, or 617-625-6600 ext 2250. A snow storm is forecast for this weekend, and volunteers who sign up by Friday, February 22nd may be called upon on Sunday for shoveling efforts. Thank you for your consideration!
If you are a Somerville teen, and interested in helping residents in need in return for a small stipend, please contact the Somerville Council on Aging at 617-625-6600 ext 2300 to learn more, or visit the Council on Aging page on the City website (www.somervillema.gov) to download an application.
Joe Beckmann
7:59 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
It's an excellent option for Stan Koty and DPW to involve teens in this kind of paid volunteer activity with Nancy Bacci! Whose idea was this so the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor can recognize this idea and get the city the credit for this kind of insight? Will Patch follow up with videos??
Joe Lynch
10:32 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
Joe - This program was initiated some years ago. The city has encouraged folks to participate, but, according to anecdotal information I have, the Council on Aging struggles to keep enough qualified, (volunteer applicants willingness to agree to a CORI check) volunteers to keep up with demand. As I stated on another blog about this subject, neighborhood associations, main streets organizations, and the occasional flash mobs, may just be a more efficient and cost effective (for the seniors and disabled, Magoun Square Neighborhood Association participants perform snow shoveling for free) for those in need.
Maybe we could drastically increase the enforcement efforts and association fines for non-compliance for non-shoveled sidewalks, stick that money into a fund to pay more to volunteer shoveling for those in need and have the City pay the volunteers directly. (that direct payment method could possibly eliminate the need for the CORI checks).
Just some thoughts.
AHM
11:21 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
I am not sure everyone even knows about this. Maybe if we could inform more people somehow. Maybe something that comes with the tax forms? Maybe a once a year flyer with different services and options on it to get the word out. Maybe ask people just to volunteer to take on one person living near them? Don't know. I think I found out about years ago be accident reading something about Cindy Hickey.
Jason
4:06 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
We will post it on the evergreen community alliance face book page.