Hinsdale is seeking additional volunteers for its snow shoveling referral program, which connects residents over age 60 or who have a disability with volunteers willing to shovel snow for them.

“We’re a little low on volunteers this year,” said Rachel Russo, the village’s marketing and communications specialist. She also said that both volunteers and residents requesting assistance need to reapply each year.

The program started in 2021, has worked well and has grown in popularity, said Mike Hayes, Hinsdale’s Parks & Recreation superintendent.

“The village’s role is to allow those needing help and volunteers to connect, but it’s pretty much a self-running program,” he said.

Ed Weingartner, an 85-year-old Hinsdale resident who has lived in the village for about 50 years, is again taking advantage of the program and is very happy with it.

“It’s important that the village put this together, and it’s very well managed, but it’s up to me to pick and choose someone,” he said.

Contact information for participating volunteers is shared with those in need of snow shoveling assistance, and residents will contact the volunteers directly when assistance is needed. The volunteer is responsible for either shoveling the snow or notifying the resident if they are unable to complete the work.

While it is a volunteer service and there is no payment is required, any compensation would be worked out between the parties, Hayes said.

The village does not conduct background checks on any of the participating volunteers or clients. Both parties should conduct their own interviews and/or reference checks if desired before agreeing to work with a particular client or volunteer, Hayes said.

More information is at www.villageofhinsdale.org/snowshovelprogram.

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/26/hinsdale-volunteer-snow-shoveling/