December 19, 2024 - Need assistance with managing snow and ice from sidewalks? Or, do you want to give back and make a difference in your community? The City of Ann Arbor has solutions for both! The city is helping residents prepare for winter weather, and the responsibilities that come with the ice and snow, with the launch of the 2024–25 A2 Snow Match program. Residents can sign up now for this season's A2 Snow Match — either as a volunteer or a recipient — to be paired with a nearby neighbor to assist, or to be assisted, with sidewalk snow removal.
“For residents with disabilities and/or physical limitations, winter can be an especially difficult time," said program manager and city Recreation Supervisor Brittany Patton. “Snowfall and icy conditions can compound the stress for community members in addition to finding solutions within their means to make sure walkways are clear and safe. The A2 Snow Match program works to alleviate these worries."
Recipients of the volunteer assistance must be city residents 55+ years of age or older OR who self-identify as having a disability AND who do not have access to resources — neither finances to hire a service nor nearby family members or friends to help out with snow removal tasks. Volunteers are matched with homes within a 10-minute (half-mile) walk from their location.
“We've found, over the three years since we launched A2 Snow Match, our volunteers enjoy helping just as much as our assistance recipients appreciate the help," Patton continued. “This is such a practical way to not only work together to create a safer city but also to build a sense of community and get neighbors out to meet one another for the good of all."
Registration is open now for residents to volunteer –or– for residents who would like to receive snow-clearing help.
Learn more about snow- and ice-management tips and responsibilities to keep sidewalks and walkways clear. And, with community support, Patton notes there will be an A2 Snow Match for all.
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