Groups of staff and students from Holland College will fan out across Charlottetown and Summerside on Thursday Oct. 11, 2001 offering volunteer services to seniors in their homes through a project called Clean Sweep.

The project, a venture between Holland College and the P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation will offer seniors living in their own homes, a free lawn raking and clean up or exterior window washing service in preparation for winter.

Originating with Brian McMillan, Executive Director of Program Operations at the College and the individual Program Unit Coordinators, the project was intended to give something back to the community through some sort of voluntary activity by staff and students. Olive Bryenton and Anna Duffy of the Seniors' Federation provided them with a variety of ideas.

"We settled on windows and lawns for the first year," said Nigel Roe, Chairman of the Clean Sweep Committee at the College. "We'd like to offer something back to the seniors of the community and at the same time develop a better rapport between younger people and seniors, both who have much to contribute to each other."

Participating seniors who wish to take advantage of this service must meet a few basic criteria. They must still be living in their own home and it should be situated in Charlottetown and Summerside, or near these cities.

"We have set a 12 kilometer radius from each city center, but we want to be flexible, and not discourage any senior from requesting this service," Roe said.

"A corporate sponsor, Target Call Center, will provide the vital link between seniors and the College." Nigel added. They will be responsible for gathering the information required by the College to prepare for a visit by volunteers.

When seniors call the toll free number they will be asked for their name, address, telephone number and the type of activity required. They will be asked for directions and if there is any equipment available to the volunteers when they arrive, such as ladders and or rakes. All of this information will be held in confidence. Teams made up of three to four volunteers will form each group and may spend up to two hours at each home, depending on requests.

"This is the first year of what we would like to see develop into an annual event by the College in assisting some segment of the community," Roe said. "We look forward to some sparkling windows and leafless lawns this fall."