Know your way around a shovel?
There are many snowbound seniors in Thorold who need your help.
As coordinator of the Snow Buddies program, Darlene Upper matches volunteer snow shovellers with seniors and adults living with disabilities.
Not only does the program prevent falls—which can be devastating for seniors—it enables them to get outdoors more in the winter, as well as stay in their homes longer.
Unfortunately, however, there are not enough volunteers, and currently 20 seniors are on the waiting list in Thorold for the Community Support Services of Niagara program.
She estimated that approximately 200 to 300 seniors are on the waiting list Niagara-wide.
Anyone who can shovel snow can volunteer, Upper told ThoroldNews. Adults and teens as young as Grade 6 are eligible to apply, she said, with parental approval.
“I get a lot of phone calls from seniors who are very appreciative when they have a Snow Buddy,” she said. "The Snow Buddies program is a great opportunity for students to gain volunteer experience, receive community service hours and help out in their community."
According to Upper, volunteers will also receive a reference from CSSN for their resume.
In addition, the program affords students the opportunity to develop communication skills, she said.
In some cases, "students bond” with their designated senior.
Upper makes every effort to match volunteers with seniors in their neighbourhood. The clients provide the shovel and salt; the volunteer does the rest.
CSSN also operates Leaf Buddies, a similar program that helps seniors with leaf collection in the fall.
Anyone who wishes to volunteer can call Darlene at 905-682-3800 ext. 35, or email [email protected]
Application forms can be faxed to 905-682-2957, or can be mailed to: 3-320 Vansickle Road, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 0B4.
More information can be found at Snow Buddies Niagara CSSN Facebook Page.
