Snow Shoveling for Seniors Where to Turn Snow Shoveling for Seniors (All Rights Reserved)

Background The Where to Turn Snow Shoveling for Seniors program began in 2002 when we received a call from a 9/11 widow informing us that her disabled in-laws received a fine from the DSNY because they did not shovel their sidewalk. Realizing that this was a problem for many senior citizens we began registering seniors and recruiting student volunteers 7th grade and older to address this issue. Since 2002 we have been averaging 500-600 volunteers a year and currently have nearly 3,000 seniors registered in the program.

Recruiting Seniors A database is created of Seniors 65 years or older Name Address Date of Birth Seniors can register by phone or by submitting an application

Recruiting Volunteers Letters are sent to all schools recruiting students 7th grade or older. Name Address Phone # School Grade

How the Program Works When we receive a student application we use Mapquest to identify a senior in our database closest to the student’s home. A letter identifying the senior and explaining the student’s responsibility is sent. Along with the letter is a Parental Consent Form. If the parent is OK with the senior assigned they return the consent form and we notify the senior by mail that they have a volunteer.

Student’s Responsibility The student basically adopts the senior for the winter. They are responsible to shovel the senior’s sidewalk and a path to the front door each times it snows more than one inch. If school is cancelled or if it snows on the weekend or a holiday the student is required to shovel within one hour after the snow stops. If school is not cancelled the student is required to arrive within one hour of dismissal from their school. Each student receives 10 hours of community service credit at the end of the winter.

Next Steps Most students who volunteer in the early grades remain with their senior through High School. We are considering offering some of these students the chance to shovel two additional seniors. In return we will Pay them $15 for each additional senior each time it snows. We are looking for some sponsors so that we can offer greater awards to the schools with the most volunteers. We are looking to create a file of some adult volunteers who might be able to help us with on offs for seniors who do not have volunteers.

Additional Programs Re-Gifting for a Good Cause - We collect and re-distribute gifts that people receive for the holidays that they will never wear or use Holiday Toy Store – We collect new unwrapped toys and open a pop up Toy Store in December and distribute to those in need. Prom Dresses for All – We collect clean and redistribute prom dresses so that students who cannot afford can attend their proms Senior Citizen Prom – We host a Prom for Senior Citizens each year at New Dorp High School. Graffiti Cleanups – Weekly cleanups alternating among the 4 precincts on Staten Island ( Over 800 completed in 2015) Litter and Weed Cleanups – Working with Councilman Matteo and Councilman Elect Borelli we have cleaned 203 locations and removed 1,048 bags of litter and weeds in 2015.