Does Salmon Arm need some snow angels?
No, not the decorations made in the snow, but a program that would help seniors who have difficulty with snow shovelling on winter days.
It might be spring, but seniors’ advocate Judy Galley is working now to try and implement a program known as Snow Angels, where a group of volunteers helps seniors in need with snow clearing.
Galley has contacted the City of Salmon Arm for help, with some positive feedback, but as the first step in the process she needs to produce an assessment, to show the level of need for a program.
“I know that the whole idea of seniors’ care is keeping people in their own homes for longer, but it got me thinking about these seniors and what they do if they can’t cope with the snow and their access is blocked. To me that is a potentially dangerous situation.”
Galley approached the school district and the college as a potential source of volunteer labour. But she is also seeking support from the city. But before that can happen, she needs to gather some data on how many seniors could benefit from such a program.
To that end, Galley is putting up posters asking seniors to sign if they have difficulty with snow clearing and could use assistance. The information would be used to make a case for the city’s support for the initiative.
The posters will be available for signing at the Fletcher Park Seniors’ Resource Centre, the Seniors Fifth Avenue Activity Centre and the Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre
They will also be available at the Shuswap Community Church, St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Living Waters Community Church, The Seventh Day Adventist Church and Broadview Evangelical Free Church.
Seniors need to be aware that signing now does not mean they are going to receive snow removal services.
Signatures will be collected until April 22.