Wheeling matching volunteer snow shovelers with people needing winter help

The Wheeling board of trustees on Monday decided to move forward with a plan to help area seniors and disabled residents with snow removal this winter.

Shari Matthews Huizar, Wheeling's director of Human Services, said the plan is to have the Volunteer Snow Removal Program fully in place before snow begins falling in 2014.

The program seeks to match volunteers with area residents who are unable to clear their driveways and sidewalks. Board members discussed liability issues and expressed a desire to make the application process easy and unintimidating before giving the project a green light Monday.

"We know there is a need," Matthews Huizar said. "What we really need are volunteers.

Matthews Huizar expects application forms to be available to residents online sometime next week. Volunteers can call the village's Senior Center at (847) 459-2670