As a significant snowstorm approaches, the Camden County Board of Commissioners and the Department of Public Safety are reminding residents about the Senior Snow Shoveling Program. This initiative is intended to help eligible seniors who may struggle to clear snow from their sidewalks.
Commissioner Jonathan Young, liaison to the Department of Public Safety, said, “The Board of Commissioners is grateful that we are able to offer this program to our senior residents who may not be able to remove snow from their sidewalks. Due to the upcoming snowstorm, we anticipate demand for the program to be very high, as such we ask our residents to explore alternate options of snow removal, like asking a neighbor or family member for help. This program is not meant to replace normal means of snow clearing, and should be treated as a last resort.”
The Senior Snow Removal Hotline will operate for 24 hours after at least four inches of snow have accumulated. Residents can call (856)-783-4808 ext. 5035 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Calls made outside these hours should include full name, home address, age, and a call-back number in the voicemail; staff will return calls during business hours to confirm eligibility.
To qualify for the service, individuals must be at least 65 years old or physically disabled, own their home in Camden County, and have no able-bodied person under age 65 living with them. They must also have exhausted other attempts at arranging snow removal.
Commissioner Young added: “Once snowfall has completely stopped, crews will begin working during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Crews will only shovel the sidewalk and accessibility ramps in the front of the residence; they will not shovel driveways, remove snow from vehicles, or salt walkways.”
Snow removal assignments are based on location rather than when requests are received. There is no guaranteed arrival time for crews; response could take several days depending on call volume and snowfall levels. Some residences may not receive service if demand exceeds capacity. The program does not cover commercial properties, rental units, or homeowners associations.
Residents must request service after each qualifying snowfall; requests do not carry over between storms and cannot be made in advance.
Camden County operates through a seven-member Board of Commissioners responsible for legislative and executive functions across its 37 municipalities in southern New Jersey (official website). The county offers services including public safety programs like this one aimed at supporting over 500,000 residents (official website).
For updates on weather conditions and county services related to winter storms, visit www.camdencounty.com
