INNISFAIL – The town is once again looking for angels.
This time they are seeking garden angels to volunteer this summer and fall.
“It’s to provide basic lawn maintenance services,” said Karen Bradbury, community and social development coordinator with the Town of Innisfail. “That could be lawn mowing, it could be assisting with some weeding or some raking.”
The Garden Angels program is similar to the Snow Angels initiative in the winter months, and also runs under the Neighbours Helping Neighbours program. It aims to help support seniors and people with disabilities who are unable to do the work themselves or who cannot afford hired help.
“It’s about helping with basic lawn maintenance for those that are unable to maintain their properties,” she said, adding volunteers began working as garden angels last year.
"We did have some volunteers linked with a couple of residents for the summer,” said Bradbury, noting they are currently pairing up volunteers with seniors and people in need. “We are working towards matching volunteers with residents now for this year.”
The need for garden angels has increased.
“So far we have about 12 residents waiting for a garden angel,” she said. “There’s been more (need) with the snow angels as well, so we’re making sure that the residents already registered for snow angels (are contacted) to see if they also need a garden angel.
“There’s more awareness about the program and there’s more need,” she added.
Bradbury said they are considering incentives for garden angels, just like they did with snow angels this year.
“At the end of our snow angel season we had a draw for an iPad. We’re looking at some other incentives for volunteer draws to show our appreciation,” said Bradbury.
The town recruits volunteers for the Neighbours Helping Neighbours initiative throughout the year, she noted, pointing out the need for volunteers in spring, summer, winter and fall.
The garden angels program will run until the end of September.
Interested volunteers and residents in need of a garden angel can pick up a Neighbours Helping Neighbours volunteer application or a resident application at the town office.
For more information visit www.innisfail.ca
