Rogersville boy mowing yards at no charge for single moms, elderly, needy
While most other young kids are hanging out with friends or playing video games on weekends, a 13-year-old boy from Rogersville is mowing yards for free.
Christian Williams is participating in the Raising Men Lawn Care Service project. He mows the yards of single moms, elderly and disabled people who can't afford to pay for yard service.
His mom Jennifer Campbell learned about the Raising Men Lawn Care Service project on Facebook. It was started by Rodney Smith Jr., last year in Huntsville, Alabama. Smith challenged himself to mow 40 yards for those in need. Within two months, he reached 100. Then, the Alabama A&M University student began challenging young people to do that same.
The program appealed to Campbell because she said she understands what a blessing a free mowing could be for a struggling single mom, an elderly or disabled person.
"I've experienced this myself as being a single mom, you don't always have the means necessary to take care of that yourself," she said in an email. "Since it's your yard, you see it every time you come home and it's a constant reminder of something you cannot afford to do or cannot afford to have taken care of.
"I know it's just a yard and it's just mowing, but to someone that cannot do it themselves, it's so much more and we totally get that," Campbell said.
For every 10 yards he mows, Smith will send him a different colored T-shirt. If he gets to 50 yards, Smith has promised to come to Rogersville and mow a few yards with him. At that time, Smith will also give Williams a new mower — something Williams said he is looking forward to.
Williams started mowing for free two weeks ago. He can only mow on the weekends but has managed to get six yards done so far. Williams said people seem to appreciate having their yards mowed.
"They are saying I'm doing a great job," Williams said. "I feel pretty good about it."
Williams is able to travel to neighboring towns to mow.
If you would like to nominate someone to have their lawn mowed, you can email Christian at raisingbatmanlawncare@gmail.com.
Raising Men Lawn Care Service
Rodney Smith Jr., said he started mowing people's yards for free after seeing an elderly man struggling with a lawn mower. He challenged himself to mow yards at no charge for the elderly, single moms or the disabled.
"I'm capable of cutting grass because I'm young. I'm able. A lot of elderly people are not able," Smith said in a video on the Raising Men Lawn Care Service Facebook page. "The goal was to reach 40 lawns. But I reached 40 lawns in a month and a half. Two months later, I reached 100."
Seeing the positive impact he was having, not just for the people who got their grass cut but for himself, Smith created the Raising Men Lawn Care Service program. In Huntsville, Alabama, there are about 50 kids participating. As word spreads through news stories and social media, kids across the country are joining in.
Smith sends them a different colored T-shirt for every 10 yards they mow. When kids reach 50 yards, Smith travels to where they are, mows a few yards with them and gives them a new lawn mower. The shirts, travel expenses and mowers are funded by donations.
Smith, 27, is a student at Alabama A&M University, pursuing his master's in social work. He is from Bermuda.
Smith said he is pleased — and a bit surprised — at how his program is spreading.
"I hope it teaches them it's good to give back," he said. "(And) teach them good morals and how to be a good citizen."