There's a critical need in Park Hill, Montbello, Five Points, and all of Aurora. 

Recent snowstorms have put a lot of our area seniors in a slippery spot when it comes to snow removal. In fact, nearly 400 people need our help to shovel snow from their driveways and sidewalks.

You can make a difference by becoming a "Snow Buddy" through the Volunteers of America Colorado. The program was created to keep seniors safe from falls on snow or ice during the winter. 

Many of those who have signed up for a snow buddy through VOA are on a fixed income and can't afford to hire professional snow removal services or even local kids in the neighborhood. This puts them in the position of having to shovel on their own, become homebound because they can't navigate the walkways, or face fines for not clearing their walks. 

"Keep a limited-income senior safe by shoveling his or her sidewalks throughout the snowy seasons," says VOA Colorado. "We make a match between a client and a volunteer who live within two miles of each other. Then, when there is a snowfall of 2 or more inches, we ask the volunteers to shovel the sidewalk and walkway for their assigned senior within 24 hours."

The program helps seniors over 60 counties in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. According to VOA Colorado, there's a particularly critical need for volunteers to help seniors in Park Hill, Montbello, Five Points, and all of Aurora. 

Volunteers can visit the VOA Colorado website to fill out an application and other forms. Please note, that a background check will be run on all potential volunteers. If you know someone who may need help shoveling their sidewalks, visit VOAColorado.org and email or call using the information provided on the Snow Buddies information page.