Drive-by Raking

2011 Announcement and Form

Since 2006, Youth Group members in grades 7 to 12 participate in Drive-by Raking on a Saturday in the Fall from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm.

A day of fun and fellowship doing random acts of kindness to assist our neighbors in need of general yard maintenance.

The raking is followed by a Pizza party in the Parish Hall.

Ten to eighteen houses are raked. Many hands make light work!

P.S.: Adult drivers and trucks are needed.

November 5, 2011, On the crisp, clear morning, Fr. Paul Murphy, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, blessed and sent 80 teen rakers grades 7-12 and 20 adults off to rid Darien lawns of their leaves. Tracey Vodola led and organized parent drivers, sites, and trucks. Our parish community came together to offer trucks, and to drive, rake and support the entire raking effort. Three teams of about 30 raked 15 Darien homes. There were six trucks to haul leaves to the town dump. Grateful and surprised Darien residents came out of their homes to thank the teams.

When asked “What did you like best about the day?” Darien High School Freshman Kendra Fitzpatrick said: “Everyone came together as a church community to help strangers and it felt good to see how grateful the home owners were that we were helping them.” Darien High School Freshmen Noah Hathaway said: “It is good to know that our volunteers went the extra mile; and in our parish community, there are people who will do what's right for the sake of doing what's right alone." The youth and families of St. Thomas More Parish helped those in need and made a difference in beautifying the Darien community.