This photo of a 93-year-old woman and her lawnmowers is going viral and for a very good and compassionate reason.
Rodney Smith Jr., a transplant from Bermuda and current student at college in Huntsville, Alabama, learned that an elderly woman in his community was mowing her own lawn.
“We did this sweet lady’s lawn today,” he wrote on Facebook. “She is 93, the neighbors told us that she been out their trying to cut her own lawn. Have no fear, raising men lawn care is going to make sure her lawn is done every two weeks! Making a difference in our community!”
Smith is the founder of Raising Men Lawn Care Service, a group that offers free lawn moving service for the elderly, disabled, and single mothers.
Smith started Raising Men Lawn Care Service as “the union of an ordinary yard maintenance service and the commitment to establish an inspiring program to keep our young men and boys (young women and girls) on a positive path while learning and understanding their value in society. This has been my vision since I started with the first yard.”
Here are several volunteers from Raising Men who are making a real difference in their community.
Since RMLCS launched in December 2015, the group of about 20 young people has mowed over 300 lawns for free.
“I want to restore the importance and understanding of giving back to the community,” Smith says. “I want to show our children (our future) that by helping others they too will receive a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, moral value and purpose in themselves.”
Smith started a GoFundMe campaign to keep his efforts going. As of May, 2, 2016, the group has raised $34,000 of its $40,000 goal.
Money raised from the campaign is being used for uniforms, mowing equipment, and to provide regular refreshments to the volunteer staff.
Learn more about Smith’s story and help them keep their volunteering alive by donating to their efforts on their GoFundMe page.
