Return to Home Page

How It Works

In order to expand the number of bus stops that are both cleared of snow and ice in winter and kept clean and attractive year-round, we need the services of able-bodied volunteers (including businesses adjacent to stops) to fill the gap.

If you can make the commitment, you will

• be assigned to a specific stop or be designated as a “backup” volunteer (see below),
• be asked to make a commitment of service for one year,
• be provided with a shovel and safety vest to keep (if you need them),
• receive an email or (perhaps) phone call from the Volunteer Coordinator (VC) when it’s appropriate to begin shoveling out your stop,
• have a sign posted at the stop acknowledging your service (if you wish), and
• (for South Portland volunteers) receive a 10-ride pass after each major snowstorm in appreciation for your work.

Commitment asked of each volunteer adopting a specific stop:

• Register and send in a signed copy of the Adopt-A-Stop Volunteer Release, which includes your agreement with the Volunteer Commitment to at least one winter’s service (subject to unforeseen life changes.)
• Be prepared to shovel out a stop within a reasonable period of time after the VC or authorized authority has sent notice to do so, or after it's clear that your city has done its "final" plowing of the street.

• Notify the VC promptly if your are unable to fulfill your commitment, thereby allowing the VC to find a backup volunteer to subsitute.

Backup Volunteers:

Filling the Gaps

Backup Volunteers fill an important niche in the Adopt-A-Stop program. Most volunteers assigned to a stop will not always be available. In addition, special situations arise that require a one-time shoveling out of a bus stop.

Backups do need to sign and send in the Volunteer Release. One advantage is this: They don't need to commit for a whole year. They simply serve on an "as needed" and "when available" basis.

Actually, we have two types of backup volunteers:

• those working with a primary adopter as a backup for one or two stops, and
• "freelance" volunteers not assigned to any specific stop.

Both kinds are needed.

Commitment asked of each backup volunteer:

• Whenever you're available, be prepared to subsitute for or offer assistance to another volunteer.

• Notify the VC promptly if your are unable to fulfill your commitment.

Contacts

Volunteer Coordinator (especially for Portland):
Robert Wagner: Contact by email
Telephone (especially if you need a quick response): (207) 408-4404

South Portland Coordinator (for problem resolution):
Rick Sargent: rsargent@southportland.org

Rev 12/13/2011