SWAMPSCOTT — With a major snowstorm predicted to strike New England on Thursday, local nonprofit For the Love of Swampscott is working to ensure the town’s elderly and disabled have assistance with snow removal at their homes.
The group started Snow Angels, a program that pairs neighborhood volunteers with elderly or disabled residents to assist with snow removal, last year.
For the Love of Swampscott members are asking anyone in need of help after the storm, or who wants to volunteer, to contact them at [email protected] or send a message to the group’s Facebook page so they can coordinate the process.
Group treasurer Tessa Cogliano said the group will post on Facebook about what roads need help. She said Thursday’s storm is the first true test of the program this year. Last year, she said, about 25 people were helped with snow removal.
“We felt there was a need within town to help the elderly and disabled citizens because we just didn’t want anyone to feel lonely, trapped, like they couldn’t get out,” Cogliano said. “If you can’t get out of your house, you can feel trapped and suffocated. You don’t want anyone in town to feel that way and have an emergency strike. You just don’t want anything bad to happen to someone just because they can’t get out of their house.”
Cogliano said the “snow angels” shovel out the walkways, or driveways and sidewalks, of residents in need. She said the goal is for people to help each other out so people aren’t slipping on ice and are able to get out in emergencies.
“We wanted to not only help out our neighbors, but the town as well,” Cogliano said. “The goal is to help as many people as we can.”
