As winter blankets Portland, the city activates a vital community-based initiative: a volunteer snow removal program. Recognizing the challenges that snow and ice present, especially for vulnerable residents, this program connects volunteers with those in need of assistance clearing streets and sidewalks.
This coordinated effort helps ensure safe passage for pedestrians and vehicles alike, fostering a sense of community responsibility and mutual support during the challenging winter months. By mobilizing volunteers, the city not only addresses the practical issue of snow removal but also strengthens community bonds and promotes neighborly assistance.
Key Takeaways
Portland’s Winter Helpers Program connects volunteers with elderly homeowners to clear snow and ice, ensuring their safety and independence.
- Volunteers help senior homeowners like Ruby Simkoff maintain safe access to their homes during winter.
- The program is part of the Age-Friendly Portland initiative, supporting over 110 households across 13 neighborhoods.
- Volunteering opportunities foster community integration for new residents while addressing challenges such as increased heating costs and limited public transportation.
Volunteering for seniors
For many elderly homeowners, like Ruby Simkoff of Woodfords Corner, these volunteer snow clearers are nothing short of essential. Maintaining independence is paramount, and the ability to safely navigate her property and surrounding sidewalks is crucial for her well-being. The volunteer snow removal program allows her to remain in her home and continue her daily routines without the fear of falls or isolation that heavy snowfall can bring.
These acts of kindness and practical support enable elderly residents to maintain their autonomy and connection to the community, enhancing their quality of life during the winter season.
Following her medical procedures involving her shoulder and hip, Simkoff looks towards volunteers from her neighborhood for help in keeping the paths to her historic house clear of any snow accumulation.
Part of the Age-Friendly Portland initiative is a volunteer-driven snow removal service coordinated through Elder Services in Portland. In 2015, Portland joined AARP’s network of Age-Friendly Communities, committing to making its environment accessible and supportive for all residents regardless of age.
Senior volunteer opportunities
To participate in the program, seniors like Simkoff can reach out to Linda Weare, the director of Elder Affairs at the city of Portland. Weare connects these senior homeowners with neighborhood volunteers who ensure their walkways are clear after a snowstorm.
Currently, more than 100 volunteers support over 110 households across 13 neighborhoods in Portland. The program has grown so much that volunteer coordinators now manage it in nine different areas under Weare’s guidance.
In Libbytown and Rosemont, Todd Ricker heads up efforts as he collaborates with a team of five helpers to aid five senior citizens who are property owners. Volunteers use WhatsApp to organize tasks during forecasted snow events and ensure all homes are checked after shoveling. “They’re grateful. Sometimes we don’t see them, sometimes they offer a cup of coffee or thank us,” Ricker noted about the feedback from those he serves.
For new residents like Jill Johanning in Nason’s Corner, volunteering is an opportunity to integrate into her community and provide crucial assistance.
She coordinates with 10 other volunteers while personally shoveling for a senior homeowner who needs help managing her dog after snowfall. Beyond the immediate benefits of clear walkways, the program helps address additional winter challenges faced by seniors, such as increased heating costs, less reliable public transportation, and difficulties regulating body temperature in cold weather conditions.
However, finding volunteers to plow driveways has become a larger issue due to retiring professional snowplowers and increased demand for their services.
Simkoff shares her struggle with the lack of available driveway plowing options after noticing several professional drivers retire over recent years. Despite these challenges, the program’s impact is undeniable, enabling seniors to continue living independently in their homes.
This aligns with the concept of “aging in place,” which emphasizes maintaining independence and dignity while aging within one’s community rather than relocating to assisted-living facilities.
As stated by Weare, it belongs to the realm of home upkeep and enables residents to carry out essential activities that prevent them from having to transition to a different living arrangement where such services are available.
Embrace winter with community Spirit
There are various opportunities available to contribute, such as assisting in driveway clearing for senior residents or taking on additional tasks that arise during the colder months to ensure everyone’s well-being and comfort.
