The realities of winter weather can translate into a nightmare for seniors and disabled Albertans who need to shovel snow in their yards.
But the Town of Innisfail's Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) have brought back the Snow Angels program to help beautify and build positive relationships within the community at no cost.
It's all about paying it forward, reducing isolation and building healthy relationships with your neighbours, said FCSS spokesperson Megan Cote last week.
“It helps people stay independent longer, and stay in their homes longer and I think that any person who is able-bodied would want the same kind of assistance when they get to that age,” Cote explained. “It's just a nice way to give back.”
As a result, FCSS is recruiting volunteers to sprinkle salt and shovel snow for citizens with limited mobility this winter.
“Snow Angels is a program that's designed to match volunteers in the community with people who are unable to shovel their sidewalks during the winter,” she added. “It includes seniors, persons with disabilities or chronic illnesses or people who have just had surgery. The only criteria that we have for people to come into the program as participants is that they must have a mobility issue that would prevent them from safely shovelling their sidewalks.”
There's no income or age requirements for people who need to utilize this program, but participants must not have anybody else in the household who would be able to do the job themselves.
And with the upcoming winter season, FCSS has already fielded a number of calls requesting help for the first snowfall including a request from Innisfail resident Irena Hagel.
The 95-year-old woman has previously hired students, but encountered a number of scheduling problems.
“I think it's a good plan,” said Hagel, adding that she now walks with a cane. “I can't do it myself and I'm sure we'll get some snow this year.”
She said the cost of hiring help wasn't a factor in her decision to register for Snow Angels, but she has previously found scheduling a student for yardwork was somewhat problematic.
“They might come one time and sometimes they don't come at all, and other times they come every day,” she said. “You never know when to expect them, or when you need them they're not there.”
Cote has been plastering posters and advertising to recruit volunteers for this winter.
For more information about volunteering or registering for snow shovelling, call Cote at 403-227-7744.
