Rodney Smith Jr. and Terrence Stroy, the founders of “Raising Men Lawn Care Service,” have made it their mission to help those in need by mowing their lawns for free. Their most recent act of kindness was when they helped an elderly woman who was unable to pay her neighbor for lawn mowing services due to high medical bills and medication costs.
When Rodney and Terrence heard of her situation, they stepped in and offered to mow her lawn for free for the rest of her life. Every two weeks, they come to make sure her lawn is well taken care of and to show her how much they care for her.
“Raising Men Lawn Care” aims to show kindness and compassion by mowing the lawns of disabled, single mothers, veterans, and the elderly for free. This idea came to Rodney when he saw an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn and realized that he could do something about it. He challenged himself to mow 40 yards for free and was able to achieve this goal quickly.
In 2015, Rodney started the “50 Yard Challenge,” where children and teens across the country are challenged to mow 50 lawns for people in need. To participate, they need to post a photo online of themselves holding a sign that says “I accept the 50 Yard Challenge,” and they then get to work. When they mow 10 lawns, they receive an orange shirt, 20 a green shirt, 30 a blue shirt, 40 a red shirt, and 50 a black shirt. Upon reaching 50, Rodney and his team fly to them, do lawns with them, and give them brand new lawnmowers.
In addition to helping those in need with their lawns, “Raising Men Lawn Care” hopes to establish an inspirational program to keep our youth, both boys and girls, engaged. In the 50 Yard Challenges, young people learn the value of kindness and service to others.
Rodney wants them to know that what they are doing is important. “I just want kids to get out there and make a difference,” Rodney said. “There are too many kids playing video games inside. I believe what I’m doing is my purpose.”
Rodney mows lawns for those in need in all 50 states, and he relies on his followers to let him know about people who need their help. He mows three to four lawns per city on average, sometimes more.
“Raising Men Lawn Care” has not only helped so many people, but it has also shown them that kindness and compassion still exist. Seeing such a small idea grow into something that inspires kids all over the country and even around the world is really cool, according to Rodney.
In a world where acts of kindness and compassion are often overlooked, “Raising Men Lawn Care” stands out as a beacon of hope and inspiration. They are showing us that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of those in need.
