CHICAGO — With Chicago buried under snow, neighborhood groups and aldermanic offices are pledging to shovel for residents in need.
Snow pounded Chicago Monday, with a winter storm warning alert in effect until noon Tuesday. Snowfall totals are expected to total eight-12 inches, city officials said at a press conference Monday.
That’s on top of the more than 28 inches that fell on the city in the last 19 days, Department of Streets and Sanitation Commissioner John Tully said. The city has 300 “snow vehicles” on hand to help with Monday’s storm, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.
While city crews are out clearing streets and operating heating shelters, neighbors are responsible for shoveling sidewalks and walkways. The city’s 311 service once ran a program that coordinated volunteers to shovel snow for volunteers, but the program was discontinued due to a lack of volunteers.
Lightfoot asked residents to look after elderly or disadvantaged neighbors and help shoveling efforts where possible.
“Obviously, we know a thing or two about extreme weather in Chicago,” Lightfoot said. “I’m calling on all Chicagoans to please check in on your neighbors. We have to all be in this together.
Here is a list of the groups helping to shovel snow this week. This list, organized by ward and neighborhood, will be updated frequently.
Not sure which ward you live in? Find out here.
Citywide
Nonprofit My Block, My Hood, My City routinely recruits volunteers to help seniors clear their sidewalks during the winter. To volunteer for a shovel crew or to request help, click here.
1st Ward
Seniors and people with disabilities who need help shoveling snow can contact Ald. Daniel La Spata’s office directly at 872-206-2685 and provide their name, address and phone number. Staffers will then connect those residents with volunteers, local mutual aid groups or neighborhood associations, La Spata’s staffer Ally Carvalho said.
2nd Ward
Residents of the 2nd Ward who need help shoveling snow can contact Ald. Brian Hopkins’ office at 312-643-2299 and provide their name and address. The office will send a staffer or volunteer to help shovel, Hopkins said.
3rd Ward
Ald. Pat Dowell’s (3rd) office is assisting seniors and disabled residents on a case-by-case basis. Those seeking help with snow removal or those wanting to volunteer can reach out to 773-373-9273 or ward03@cityofchicago.org.
5th Ward
The Neighborhood Network Alliance is coordinating volunteers to help shovel snow for people in need. To register for help, volunteer or donate supplies, click here.
Residents who can also call 773-609-3001 or send an email to resourcehub@thenna.org with questions or donations.
7th Ward
The Neighborhood Network Alliance is coordinating volunteers to help shovel snow for people in need. To register for help, volunteer or donate supplies, click here.
Residents who can also call 773-609-3001 or send an email to resourcehub@thenna.org with questions or donations.
11th Ward
Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson’s (11th) office helps coordinate snow shoveling efforts in the ward. Neighbors in need of help with shoveling can call the office at 773-254-667.
12th Ward
Ald. George Cardenas (12th) has assembled a team of volunteers to clear snow on blocks with a concentration of seniors. With about 10 volunteers, the crew has been using snow blowers and other equipment from 9 a.m. until sundown to clear sidewalks and troublesome alleyways, Cardenas said.
After receiving a list of requests, volunteers are split up into crews in McKinley Park and Brighton Park.
Cardenas said he is seeking volunteers to help with some of the snow removal requests. For help with removal in 12th ward, Ald. Cardenas office is 773-523-8250.
15th Ward
Ald. Raymond Lopez’s office is assisting seniors and other residents in need with snow removal in the 15th Ward, which includes portions of Back of the Yards, Gage Park, Brighton Park and West Englewood.
The efforts have been ongoing over the last six years, Lopez said. People in need or those wanting to volunteer can contact Lopez’s ward office at 773-823-1539.
20th Ward
Ald. Jeanette Taylor’s (20th) office helps coordinate volunteer snow shoveling efforts in the ward. Those seeking helping should call the ward office at 773-966-5336 and leave an address and phone number. The request will be forwarded to a team of volunteers.
22nd Ward
In the 22nd Ward, Ald. Michael Rodriguez, a group of staff and volunteers have been dispatching members to help ward residents in need of assistance with shoveling snow. “We try to help as much as possible,” Rodriguez said.
Residents in of assistance can call 773-762-1771 for snow showing assistance. Ward office hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.
24th Ward
Ald. Michael Scott (24th) said the volunteers who help shovel snow for seniors are currently snowed in. Those wishing to help shovel snow in the ward can reach out at alderman24@aldermanscott.com.
25th Ward
Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez’s office staff and volunteers are removing snow for seniors and people with disabilities.
Sigcho-Lopez’s staff keeps a list of volunteers to dispatch as requests come in. To volunteer or seek shoveling assistance, call the ward office at 773-523-4100.
26th Ward
Ald. Roberto Maldonado’s 26th Ward office has a team of staffers and volunteers helping residents shovel snow. For assistance, reach out to Maldonado’s office directly at 773-395-0143.
29th Ward
Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) said he’s coordinating shoveling through his office. Those wishing to volunteer or to seek help can call the ward office at 773-237-6469.
33rd Ward
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez’s (33rd) office helps coordinate volunteer snow shoveling efforts in the ward. To volunteer services or to seek shoveling assistance, fill out an online form here.
35th Ward
Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) is seeking volunteers to shovel snow for seniors and people with disabilities. Those who are interested should fill out this online form or reach out to Anthony Quezada, Ramirez-Rosa’s neighborhood services director, directly at anthony@aldermancarlosrosa.org.
37th Ward
Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) said residents needing help with shoveling can contact the 37th Ward Public Service Office at 773-379-0960 or at ward37@cityofchicago.org.
The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago also offers limited volunteer snow removal services and can be reached at 773-417-7421 or info@nonviolencechicago.org.
38th Ward
Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) said three ward employees are working to help elderly and people with disabilities shovel their snow. Some regular volunteer shovelers are snowed in, so resources are limited, Sposato said. Those who are in need or those wishing to volunteer to shovel can call the ward office at 773-283-3838.
39th Ward
Ald. Samantha Nugent’s (39th) office coordinates a “neighbors helping neighbors” initiative formed to help with coronavirus response but has since expanded to help with shoveling, Chief of Staff Erika Wozniak said. Those needing shoveling help can get paired with a volunteer by calling the ward office at 773-736-5594 or emailing ward39@cityofchicago.org.
40th Ward
Ald. Andre Vasquez’s (40th) “snow shovel squad” is a volunteer group available to help residents in need shovel their properties. The volunteers are dispatched when snowfall is greater than 2 inches or when “conditions are particularly treacherous,” according to Vasquez’s website.
To request shoveling assistance or to volunteer to shovel, click here.
The volunteer group is in need of donations to help their efforts, including money for rock salt, shovels and hand warmers. To donate to the effort, click here.
45th Ward
Ald. Jim Gardiner’s (45th) “Gardiner Angels” group is available to help neighbors in need with shoveling. To volunteer services or to seek assistance, contact the ward office at (773)-853-0799 or ward45@cityofchicago.org.
47th Ward
Ald. Matt Martin (47th) is asking residents who need snow shoveling assistance to reach out to his office by emailing info@aldermanmartin.com.
48th Ward
Ald. Harry Osterman’s (48th) office helps coordinate volunteer snow shoveling efforts in the ward. Neighbors in need of help with shoveling or wishing to volunteer their services can email alan@48thward.org or call the office at 773-784-5277.
49th Ward
Ald. Maria Hadden’s (49th) office helps coordinate volunteer snow shoveling efforts in the ward. For those seeking help with shoveling, fill out an online form here. To volunteer to help shovel in the 49th Ward, click here.
Logan Square
Logan Square resident Lindsay Saewitz created snow-shoveling services map after seeing many people ask for help clearing snow in neighborhood Facebook groups. The map lists for-profit shoveling services. To check it out, click here.
Lincoln Square
Lincoln Square North Neighbors, GRO Community, and Heart of Lincoln Square are launching the 2nd Annual Volunteer Snow Brigade. To volunteer your services or to seek snow shoveling help, fill out an online form here.
East Lakeview
The East Lakeview Neighbors group is helping residents with disabilities shovel their snow. Those requiring help or those seeking to volunteer their services can contact Michael Zink at mizink9@hotmail.com.
North Lawndale
North Lawndale residents in need of shoveling help can contact the Lawndale Cares Helpline by clicking here. Those wishing to volunteer to help can also fill out the same form.
South Shore
The Neighborhood Network Alliance is coordinating volunteers to help shovel snow for people in need in South Shore. To register for help, volunteer or donate supplies, click here.
Residents who can also call 773-609-3001 or send an email to resourcehub@thenna.org with questions or donations.
Know of a snow shoveling effort in your neighborhood? Email reporter Joe Ward at joe@blockclubchi.org and we’ll add it to our list.
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