Volunteer program helps shovel snow

Friday, January 23, 2009

Students wanting to get volunteer experience can check out the Safe Winter Walkways program. The volunteer program, created by the City of Lawrence, pairs volunteers with residents who are unable to shovel their driveways and sidewalks.

Lawrence recently adopted a stricter snow removal policy, which requires property owners to remove snow from their sidewalks and driveways within 48 hours. If the snow is not removed, owners can receive a fine of $20 for each day the snow remains.

Volunteers are only required to participate for one snow season which ends the last day of March and are asked to shovel the sidewalk and a path from the doorway to the street.

Dacia McCabe Mahbr, a member of the community services division of Douglas County Senior Services Inc, said the program was a good opportunity for students wanting to volunteer. Mahbr said the service didn’t require a large time commitment because there were no long-term obligations.

Greg Herrod, a volunteer for the program, helps in his neighborhood with his two sons. Herrod said that because there hadn’t been any ice storms or heavy snowfall this year, the task hadn’t been difficult.

Rush Griffith, Dallas senior, said he thought it was great that people were willing to participate in the program.

“You’re helping out a group of people who really need the help,” Griffith said.

Annie Mueller, a senior citizen benefitted by the program, described the service as a “Godsend.” Mueller and her husband are both in their 80s and said they would have a hard time shoveling snow if it weren’t for the program. She said that without the program, all she could do was hope someone would be kind enough to shovel for her.

“It’s really a blessing in disguise to know that when the snow is falling, someone will be there to clean it promptly,” Mueller said.

— — Edited by Chris Hickerson

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