As winter approaches, the City of Lawrence and Douglas County Senior Services are once again pairing volunteer snow-shovelers to residents in need of clearing their sidewalks following a snowfall. The program is known as Safe Winter Walkways.

City of Lawrence code requires all property owners with an adjacent sidewalk to remove the snow or ice within 48 hours after a snow event to ensure residents are able to safely use public sidewalks. The Safe Winter Walkways program is the city's effort to help Lawrence residents who can't physically shovel their sidewalks.

According to the city, this year 64 people have signed up for the service so far, with only 24 volunteers committed as of this week.

Potential volunteer snow-shovelers are asked to sign up on the city website, or by calling the city at 832-3338. Volunteers will be matched with Lawrence residents who are unable to shovel snow. The city says they will make every effort to match volunteers with residents in their neighborhoods. Volunteers are asked to commit to the snow season and shovel snow each snowfall. Volunteers are asked to remove snow from the public sidewalk on the property and a path from the front door to the street. Snow removal beyond sidewalks and the path to the street is not a requirement.

Those in need of the sidewalk service are asked to sign up through the city website, or by calling 832-3338. The deadline to register is January 1, 2013.