‘50-Yard Challenge’ Program Empowers Kids to Mow Lawns for Elderly, Give Back to Neighborhood

Rodney Smith Jr., founder of the Raising Men Lawn Care Service program. Courtesy of Rodney Smith Jr.

If Rodney Smith Jr. gets his way, all boys and girls across America will gain a big brother to look up to—if they pay forward the gesture by mowing lawns for the elderly and disabled.

Born in Bermuda, Smith recalled to The Epoch Times how his parents taught him charity as a boy by taking him out to feed the homeless.

“I think that played a part of who I am today,” said Smith, 35, who moved off his native island to upstate New York in 2009 but now calls Huntsville, Alabama, home.

Smith majored in social work like his father before him, studying at Texas A&M University after abandoning a career in computer technology to follow his passion for helping others. Now, though, he mainly just runs the non-profit organization he launched, Raising Men Lawn Care Services (RMLCS) and its sister program Raising Women Lawn Care Service.

Most days of the week, Smith keeps tabs on able-bodied kids nationwide accepting his 50-Yard Challenge, an open challenge to mow 50 lawns for elderly, veterans, disabled, and other needy folks. He travels to visit schools and also mow lawns for free, ensuring himself a busy schedule year round.

It all started with a single act of kindness in his senior year in 2015, Smith says.

“I was leaving school, and I came across an elderly man outside mowing his lawn,” he said. “It looked like he was struggling, so I pulled over and helped him out, and then, little did I know, that one small act of kindness would end up changing my life.”

Rodney Smith Jr. takes a selfie while crossing the Utah border during one of his many trips across America. Courtesy of Rodney Smith Jr.

Getting home that night, Smith posted about the experience on Facebook. He was so inspired that he offered to mow the lawns of other older folks, asking if anyone had an elderly parent or knew any disabled veterans in need of a hand. He would show up and mow their lawns—for free.

“I can’t remember how many I done,” Smith said. “People reached out, and I started mowing lawns. At first my goal was to mow 40 lawns—I was in school, so I'd mow them in between classes—but I mowed 40 lawns so quick I had to go up to 100.”

After founding RMLCS in 2016, not only did Smith mow lawns for the needy in his area, but he invited kids across the country to take up his 50-Yard Challenge to mow 50 lawns and help their own communities. Those who completed the challenge were rewarded with a brand-new lawn mower and weed-whacker set, courtesy of Smith, which he hand-delivered personally, driving to family homes wherever in America they might be.

Jesse Ward of Warner Robins, Georgia, accepts the 50-Yard Challenge. Courtesy of Jennifer Selby Ward

Phoenix Browne of Chesapeake, Virginia, mowed 50 lawns for free after signing up for Raising Men Lawn Care Service’s 50 Yard Challenge. Courtesy of Sheldon Browne

Smith’s Facebook account is now filled with photos of grinning kids holding homemade signs scrawled in felt marker: “I accept the 50-Yard Challenge.” They are pictured cutting overgrown grass down to size and posing with grateful older homeowners.

Over the years, some 5,000 boys and girls have signed up, and although many dropped out, unable to finish all 50 lawns, around 400 to 500 have completed all 50, Smith said.

The 50-Yard Challenge not only helps the elderly and disabled but also all those kids aged 7 to 17 who do the mowing.

It teaches life lessons.

The program means “mentoring kids,” Smith said, “showing them the importance of giving back and helping people.” Plus, “it’s good exercise,” he added. “It’s therapeutic mowing the lawn, and you can have some music on and just mow.”

Getting outside into the fresh air and exercising was especially vital when the COVID-19 lockdowns hit, he said. “A lot of kids were home from school, and that’s where most kids started to sign up. It’s been growing ever since.”

Smith has now driven to all 50 states to bestow kids with boxed sets of lawn-mowing equipment, visit with the winners, and mow lawns free of charge beyond his home state of Alabama.

Rodney Smith Jr. poses at the border to New Mexico. Courtesy of Rodney Smith Jr.

He recalls one participant of the 50-Yard Challenge named Wesley from Michigan, who was around 14 when Smith paid a visit and awarded him a lawn mowing kit for finishing 50 lawns.

The mentorship helped Wesley’s personality bloom, Smith said.

“His mom told me when he signed up he was a shy, quiet kid and always kept to himself,” he said. “He came to the organization, he’s getting out there meeting people, and he started opening up and started becoming a people person.”

After getting the new equipment, some of the kids feel empowered and go on to start their own businesses, Smith said. Others continue mowing lawns for free. They have the option to mow for causes they support, as well as for teachers. RMLCS also features a “military edition” and “first responders edition.”

Smith’s vision is to see more kids mowing lawns and his mentorship organization continuing to grow as he becomes something of a big brother to those who take on his challenge.

“Someday, I hope [RMLCS] gets as big as the Big Brothers and Big Sisters,” he said. “We want to start chapters in all 50 states.”