Spokane, Wash. – This winter, Sheri Riehl expects hundreds of calls from people around Spokane County who need help removing snow.
“Right now when you look outside, we’re not seeing a bunch of snow, but we also know that once it starts to snow our call volume will double or triple with people calling us for help.”
Calls to 3-1-1 for help removing snow get directed to Riehl and her team at Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington, and she encourages those in need of this help to call 509-710-2431
“In 2022, we had a lot of phone calls from a lot of community members that needed help with snow removal, and unfortunately we had to turn some of those people away because we did not have enough volunteers in our community to help them,” Riehl said.
That growing need is what inspired Riehl, the Benefits Enrollment Specialist with Aging and Long Term Care of Washington State, to launch the ‘Adopt A Neighbor’ campaign, which partners people who volunteer to shovel snow with people in the county who may not be able to clear the snow from their property without this assistance.
“We’re talking about individuals that may not be able to go grocery shopping when it snows because they can’t leave their house, maybe they can’t go to a medical appointment…when it snows, they have no way to get out,” Riehl said.
Riehl added the snow also poses health risks to our elderly community and those afraid of falling.
“They get so excited when we say that there’s somebody we’re going to be able to give their name and number to to call them,” Riehl said. “When you know you have someone that will ‘adopt’ them for the snow season, you can’t help but feel better about our community.”
Riehl said she’s thrilled that the ‘Adopt A Neighbor’ program is already helping thanks to 17 Spokane organizations, businesses like Sarah Gaither’s Spokane Pool Cleaning, helping pair their employees with people around Spokane County in need of snow removal help.
“I thought this would be a great way for my company to give back,” Gaither said. “Everyone is very grateful. It warms my heart.”
Gaither sometimes spends hours helping her ‘adopted’ neighbors remove snow or add ice melt to their walkways after winter weather strikes.
“The winter can be really bleak around here,” Gaither said. “I think giving back to the community and helping my neighbors gives me that sunshine that I need.”
“If you are an individual that has a disability or you are a senior and you can not get out to shovel your snow, you’re welcome to give us a call, but I want caution that it is a volunteer program, so we can not guarantee that there is a volunteer in your area,” Riehl said.
You can become one of those volunteers by first asking the business, organization, or church you’re with to get involved.
Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington welcomes groups such as clubs, organizations, businesses, churches, and schools willing to adopt one or more older adults or individuals with disabilities in their community to volunteer to ‘Adopt A Neighbor’ by emailing action@altcew.org or calling 509-960-7281
“We put you in the zip codes that you’re willing to assist in.”
Riehl said they are currently in need of more volunteers for the 99205 zip codes, the Mead area, and Airway Heights.
“This kind of work…you don’t need a ‘thank you,’ just doing the work, you can see it in their eyes that they’re grateful,” Gaither said.
