My TCHF
Shovel For Seniors
Free snow clearing for seniors after a snowfall, by verified volunteers, from November to April.
Shovel For Seniors is a free program that helps seniors across Canada after a snowfall. It is run by Trillium Community Help Foundation (TCHF), a registered Canadian charity, through My TCHF.
Volunteers clear driveways, walkways and front steps for seniors and neighbours who need a hand, with before and after photos from every visit.
Who it helps
Get Help is focused on seniors 65 and over, and anyone in need may apply. TCHF approves each home, in any Canadian city.
Family members and friends can add the home of someone they look after, request help on their behalf and see the photos from each visit.
How to get help
Create a free account, choose Get Help and add the home. Once TCHF approves it, you can request snow clearing whenever you need it and follow the visit in the app.
Say what needs clearing (driveway, walkway, sidewalk, front steps or the full property) and whether you need it today or in the next couple of days. If no volunteers live near your home yet, the app tells you, and we look for volunteers in your area.
How to volunteer
Adults and high-school students can volunteer. Create a free account, choose Volunteer and finish your checks. The app shows what is left to do.
Start a shift when you head out, pick up the jobs TCHF assigns near you, and take before and after photos. Every shift is timed, and you can download a signed Hours Letter for school community hours.
Safety
- Everyone who adds a home, asks for help or volunteers first verifies their ID with Stripe Identity (for volunteers under 18, their parent or guardian does). TCHF never receives or keeps images of your ID or your selfie.
- Adult volunteers (18 and over) also need a Vulnerable Sector Check from the police service where they live, reviewed by TCHF Admin or Operations staff and valid for 3 years, and they e-sign the volunteer agreement.
- Volunteers under 18 need the consent of a verified parent or guardian, who co-signs the volunteer agreement and can pause them at any time. Volunteers aged 14 to 17 work outdoors, in daylight only, and never go inside a home.
- Households see their volunteer’s public name and an expected arrival time, never where the volunteer is. With the volunteer’s consent, location is recorded only during a shift, so TCHF staff can keep volunteers safe.
When it runs
Shovel For Seniors runs from November 1 to April 30, after a snowfall. Out of season, the app shows when the program opens again.
Questions about Shovel For Seniors
Does Shovel For Seniors cost anything?
No. Shovel For Seniors is free. It is run by Trillium Community Help Foundation (TCHF), a registered Canadian charity, and donations are always optional.
Adult volunteers need a Vulnerable Sector Check. Some police services charge for it, and volunteers pay any fee.
What do Shovel For Seniors volunteers clear?
You choose what needs clearing: the driveway, the walkway, the sidewalk, the front steps, or the full property. Volunteers take before and after photos, so you can see the work and rate it.
Who provides the shovel?
The household does. Volunteers bring their time and use your own shovel (and salt, if you have some).
Please leave it where the volunteer can find it, for example by the front door or in an unlocked garage, and mention where in the note on your request.
Do Shovel For Seniors volunteers need a police check?
Yes, for adults. Adults (18 and over) who volunteer with Shovel For Seniors need a Vulnerable Sector Check from the police service where they live, because these roles mean regular visits to seniors’ homes.
Download your TCHF Volunteer Confirmation Letter in My TCHF, apply with your police service, then upload the result. TCHF Admin or Operations staff review it, usually within 2 days. Some police services charge a fee, which volunteers pay.
Volunteers under 18 don’t need a police check. A verified parent or guardian gives consent instead.
Can I ask for snow clearing for my mom or dad?
Yes. Add their home as Family & friends and you can request help, follow each visit and see the photos on their behalf. Other family members can join the same home.