Elmwood Park Village Board okays snow plan, bus service for seniors

| January 1, 2013

Vouchers used to pay high school students for shoveling

ELMWOOD PARK – The Village Board has approved a plan to help senior citizens and disabled residents pay for snow removal at their homes when there is a snowfall of six inches or more. The board voted unanimously in favor of the program which provides eligible residents with vouchers that can be used to pay students from Elmwood Park high school who have registered with the village to shovel their sidewalks and porches.
“We want to make sure our seniors and anyone needing extra assistance can have their walks cleared when there is a significant snowfall,” Village President Pete Silvestri said. “This program can really make a difference, especially if we have a harsh winter.”
Residents who want to participate in the program can pick up their vouchers at Village Hall or call Tina Gordon at 708-261-1154. Rather than pay with cash, a senior simply gives a student a voucher and the student redeems the voucher at Village Hall. Elmwood Park High School students have been available to shovel snow in the past, but this is the first year the village is providing vouchers to seniors and the disabled.
The Board also approved a free senior dial-a-ride program, utilizing a new bus supplied by Pace as part of its community vehicle program. The bus will operate from 7 a.m. to noon on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
Dial-a-ride stops include Elmwood Park restaurants, banks, the Metra station, Harlem and Irving Plaza, Brick Yard Mall and Gottlieb Hospital. The program is available to anyone 65 or older and residents with disabilities or special needs. A 24 hour notice is needed for pick-up. Anyone needing to request service should call 708-452-7300.
“This is another way we can help our seniors and the disabled, who often struggle to find someone to take them shopping or pick up their prescriptions,” Silvestri said. “We urge as many residents as possible to take advantage of this new option.”

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