Rodney Smith Jr. is well known on social media for his efforts in encouraging young individuals to serve their communities.
Smith has been actively promoting the act of mowing lawns for first responders, single mothers, elderly citizens, the disabled and veterans, according to a report from Breitbart news.
Through his initiative, Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service, a reported 4,948 children in eight countries have completed the organization’s 50 Yard Challenge, which encourages participants to mow 50 lawns for free.
Children interested in accepting the challenge are instructed to submit a photo of themselves holding a sign saying “I accept the 50 Yard Challenge,” according to the challenge website.
The challenge sends the children a white “Raising Men/Women” T-shirt, along with sunglasses and ear protection to get them started. For every 10 lawns they cut, challenge participants get a different colored T-shirt.
An orange T-shirt is sent after they cut their 10th lawn; the 20th lawn merits a green shirt; after the 30th lawn, they get a blue shirt; 40 lawns earns a red shirt; and when they mow their 50th lawn, they get a black T-shirt.
“Once you reach 50 lawns, we will come visit you, & present you your black shirt,” the challenge website promises. “We will also give you a brand new lawn mower, weed eater & blower!”
“Let’s make a difference together by mowing one yard at a time!”
In a recent endeavor, Smith has set a new personal challenge for himself: to mow the lawns of law enforcement officers across all 50 states. The process allows for nominations through their official website.
It was through this platform that Smith came to know about Officer Carla Strauser from Arlington, Texas, according to the Breitbart report.
Recognizing Officer Strauser’s significant contributions to the Santa Cops initiative every year, Smith believed she deserved a kind gesture. He personally visited her residence and mowed her lawn, as posted by Arlington, TX Police on their official X account.
“Rodney heard about the tremendous effort Officer Strauser puts into Santa Cops each year – and thought she deserved a little kindness in return,” the department noted. “So he stopped by her house and mowed her lawn!”
Strauser, who has nearly three decades of service with the Arlington Police Department, accepted Smith’s offer to mow her lawn.
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