Moak and the Council on Aging reached an agreement last week that will provide assistance for the cost of snow shoveling to Newburyport senior citizens.
The Howard Benevolent Society Inc. has agreed to help pay to provide snow shovelers for the elderly in the city.
At the same time, the Council on Aging is requesting those who are willing to put their names on a list of available shovelers. Those willing should be able to shovel snow from sidewalks, driveways and steps.
The Council on Aging says it will try to match shovelers with seniors in their neighborhoods.
Those who need assistance or can offer assistance may call 978-463-8650.
Great idea. As I suggested in my earlier post, so many of the services we're hoping a senior center might provide could be delivered through other means. Clearly, shoveling has little to do with a senior center, but the idea of establishing a network of volunteers who can help out their elderly neighbors would go a little ways toward filling the needs our seniors currently have. (Before you ask, I threw out my back in the last snowstorm so I'm not volunteering.)
There is precedence for such a support group--the Newburyport Mother's Club as a social group. While that's largely its mission, the club does provide ongoing support for those mothers or mothers with newborns who need the help. Wouldn't it be nice if seniors and non-seniors in town banded together to provide similar level of support for our elderly residents who need a bit of help?
Regarding the senior center, Mary Eaton chimed in on my earlier suggestion. I concede that in a best case scenario we'd have a senior center with all the services necessary for our seniors. I just hope we emphasize the latter over the former when weighing what we can or cannot afford.
Meanwhile, Ed Cameron tacked a couple of points to the collective local blogosphere IQ with a triumphant return.
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