photo by: Chad Lawhorn

In this file photo from Nov. 12, 2018, Tom Schroeder works at chipping away snow and ice from the sidewalk near his home on Crescent Road near the University of Kansas campus.

The City of Lawrence and the Senior Resource Center for Douglas County’s collaborative program to clear snowy sidewalks for older residents and disabled individuals is seeking volunteers ahead of winter.

Registration for the Safe Winter Walkways Program is now open for both participants and volunteers on the city’s website or by calling Larry Woydziak with the Senior Resource Center at 785-727-7875. Participant registration closes Nov. 17 so that all volunteers can be matched before winter weather begins.

Through the program, able-bodied residents who sign up to volunteer are matched with residents who need assistance. The program tries to match volunteers with residents in their neighborhoods.

The city asks all volunteers to commit to the entire snow season and to shovel after each snowfall. Volunteers aren’t required to provide snow removal for private driveways, sidewalks or walkways, but they may clear those areas as well if they choose. Overall priority is given to homes with public sidewalks.

Individual volunteers are welcome, but the program also encourages groups, civic organizations and youth groups to consider volunteering as a team. Interested volunteers can contact Woydziak to find out how to sign up as a group and to learn more about the requirements for volunteering.