RAKE A DIFFERENCE 2024
Registration opens September 1 for “Rake A Difference”. Get your team together to help seniors with fall yard work!
On Thursday, November 14, 2024, hundreds of area volunteers, working as teams, will help seniors in Southwest Michigan rake & bag leaves, and clean gutters as part of United Way’s 14th annual “Rake A Difference” event. The service is FREE of charge to seniors, aged 60 and older, who can’t physically perform this yard work themselves and who can’t afford to pay someone to do work for them. Seniors are helped on a first-come, first-served basis, dependent on the number of volunteers available.
Why is this event important? Before winter hits, raking leaves and cleaning out gutters is a vital step to ensuring that snow melt doesn’t cause water damage to seniors’ homes or lawns. Many area seniors try to accomplish this work on their own, putting them at risk for falls and serious injury. United Way of Southwest Michigan mobilizes the community to help them through this fun and engaging event.
Seniors, age 60 and older, who can’t physically perform yard work and can’t afford to pay for services are eligible to sign up to have a team of volunteers come on November 14. Seniors living in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren counties are helped on a first-come, first-served basis and dependent on the number of volunteers available.
Senior FAQs
DO THE SENIORS NEED TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPLIES?
No, United Way of Southwest Michigan and the volunteers will provide supplies including leaf bags, rakes, gloves, and tarps.
DO I NEED TO BE HOME WHEN THE VOLUNTEERS RAKE OR CLEAN MY GUTTERS?
No, neither the senior nor a representative for the senior needs to be home when the volunteers arrive to rake or clean gutters. For this event, sometimes we provide seniors with a senior care kit. If we have them available, the volunteers will leave one at the front door if the senior is not home.
WHO WILL COME TO RAKE MY YARD AND/OR CLEAN MY GUTTERS?
We are thankful to have hundreds of amazing community members who volunteer for this event. These volunteers will be provided with the senior’s first name and address. All volunteers are subject to a background check before coming to assist a senior with their yard or gutter needs.
DO THE VOLUNTEERS TAKE THE LEAVES WITH THEM AFTER THEY ARE DONE RAKING OR CLEANING MY GUTTERS?
No, unfortunately these volunteers do not have the capacity to dispose of leaves. Also, each municipality has their own rules and regulations for how leaves can be disposed. For these reasons, it is the senior’s responsibility to dispose of their own leaves once the volunteer has raked and placed them into bags. The same is true for the debris that comes out of your gutters (if you are having the volunteers clean your gutters as well). If you need guidance on this, please contact your local city, village, or township office for instruction on how to properly dispose of your leaves in your municipality.
DO THE VOLUNTEERS RAKE MY ENTIRE YARD?
Volunteers will do as much of your yard as possible, but we cannot guarantee that the volunteers will be able to do your entire yard, especially if your yard is large. The volunteers will make sure to rake at least 50 feet around the perimeter of your home, and clear areas around the house foundation and walkways. If you have a large yard, please understand that we are serving a lot of seniors on this day and the volunteers will do as much as they can in your yard.
I HAVE SOME OTHER YARD WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OR SOMETHING I NEED HELP WITH AROUND MY HOME. MAY I ASK THESE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP ME WITH THOSE THINGS, TOO?
Our volunteers have graciously donated their time to help you with the leaves in your yard and/or the debris in your gutters (depending on what you indicated you needed help with). These volunteers likely will have several yards to take care of on this one day, and for this reason, they are not able to work on or complete any other tasks for you.
WHAT TIME WILL THE VOLUNTEERS ARRIVE AT MY HOME?
The volunteers will be at your house between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 14. Since these volunteers will likely be helping several seniors with their yards on this one day, please know that we are not able to provide you with an exact time of their arrival at your home. You do not need to be home when the volunteers are raking or taking care of your gutters.
DO YOU OFFER THIS SAME SERVICE IN THE SPRING?
United Way of Southwest Michigan does not currently offer this service (or any similar service) in the Spring.
I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. HOW CAN I GET THOSE ANSWERED?
You can call United Way of Southwest Michigan at 269.932.3554. One of our team members will be happy to answer your questions.
Volunteer teams are needed to rake leaves and clean gutters for seniors citizens throughout Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties! These activities can be difficult, if not impossible, for seniors. But with your help, seniors can be ready for winter.
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SEPT. 1
Need help getting your team going?
Step-by-step video guides:
(Note: steps to sign up are the same regardless of the year referenced in the video.)
help on being a team lead:
Rake a Difference 2024: Key Dates
Sept. 1: Volunteer Registration opens on the Volunteer United site.
Sept. 3: Senior Registration opens via phone 269.932.3554.
Hours of Operation:
· Mon – Thurs 9 am. – 4 p.m.
· Fri 9 a.m. – 12 noon.
· (Closed weekends and holidays)
Sept. 30: Senior Registration closes. Seniors may be put on a waiting list prior to this date.
Oct. 18: Volunteer Registration closes. (This is a firm deadline!)
Nov. 6: Supply Pick Up at United Way office 1 – 6 p.m. Teams will receive the address(es) and name(s) of the senior(s) they will be serving at this time.
Nov. 7: Supply Pick Up at United Way office 9 a.m – 12 noon. Teams will receive the address(es) and name(s) of the senior(s) they will be serving at this time.
Nov. 14: RAKE A DIFFERENCE 2024!
Supply drop-off at United Way office from 3-6 p.m.
Nov. 15: Supply Drop Off at United Way office from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
