Brandon Twp.- Community support is needed to provide the annual spring yard cleanup known as ‘Teens and Seniors, Rocking and Raking.?
Senior citizens and disabled adults are the beneficiaries of the project, as volunteers clean yards, wash windows, trim trees with hand tools, bring out lawn furniture from storage and wash items, clean gutters, do light painting and other minor home improvements.
The cleanup effort began seven years ago in conjunction with the former home repair program ‘Rebuilding Together,? and has grown every year, with large numbers of young people volunteering. This year’s cleanup date is Saturday, May 8.
‘This program gives our young people the opportunity to do something nice for someone else,? said Township Clerk Jeannie McCreery. ‘They work really hard, and at the end of the day they feel good about themselves and all the nice people they met and helped. They come back year after year to participate.?
McCreery is expecting at least 200 volunteers this year, and needs to provide lunch and t-shirts for all of them. The Teens and Seniors Rocking and Raking program is funded entirely by sponsor fees and donations. Needed lunch items include hot dog buns, paper plates, napkins, plastic tableware, pop, water, individual snack bags (potato chips for example), cookies, brownies, ketchup, mustard, and relish. Monetary donations will be used to purchase potato salad or another side dish.
Yard cleaning supplies are also needed, including paper leaf bags, large strong garbage bags, cleaning supplies including window cleaner and general cleaner, paper towels, cloth gloves, paint rollers, brushes and liners. The donation of used tools such as rakes, trimmers and weeding tools are also appreciated. Sponsors already on board for this year include the Edna Burton Senior Center’s auxiliary board, Bory Landscaping, Inc., Tool Sport & Sign Co., Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, Frosty Boy of Ortonville, Hillside Bible Church, and Chesnutt Outdoor Services. To join the list of sponsors, make a donation, or request yard cleanup, call Jeannie McCreery at 248-627-2851 or Annette Beach at 248-627-6447 or e-mail
jmccreery@brandontownship.us or abeach@brandontownship.us.