Rake and Run returns for 2017

DELAVAN — Between 50 and 80 Phoenix Middle School leadership students — Peer Helpers, Student Council members and National Junior Honor Society members — will soon take to yards in need of some leaf raking as part of a school community service project.

The groups are teaming up for the school’s fourth annual Rake and Run, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3, 2017.

Sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the groups, under adult supervision, will rake the yards of selected Delavan homes near the school (map). The raking area is surrounded by Walworth Avenue, Second Street, East Wisconsin Street, Spring Drive/West Geneva Street and Beloit Street. The houses behind (west of) and between Phoenix Middle School and Delavan-Darien High School are also in the mix of possible homes to be raked in an area approximately defined by Turtle Creek Drive, Creek Road, Autumn Drive and Highway 11.

“We are excited to bring this event back for a fourth time,” said Steve Gross, Phoenix Middle School counselor and event organizer. “The kids enjoy this kind of service work and it’s great to see that we are able to expand the service area a bit this year.”

The students are able to learn about leadership, communication, community service and working together, and they get to have a “field trip” without spending a dime or getting on the bus.

The community also benefits and community members see the Phoenix students helping out and learning about being good citizens.

“We want to get our students out into the community. We especially want to have those students in leadership positions within the school really take the lead on this project, and they are,” Gross said. “As organizers, we want to show the Delavan-Darien area, ‘Hey, look at these amazing kids. They’re doing this great work and are asking for nothing.’ They want to help and contribute to our community, too.”

The students are looking for homeowners within the area to sign up for their leaf-raking endeavor by Monday, Oct. 30.

If not enough homeowners sign up, the students will rake the public spaces and parks near the school, Gross said. If too many homeowners sign up, students will get to as many houses as they can in the time they have.

This year, the project will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Homeowners interested in having the students rake their yards should:

• Fill out the online form
• call the school, (262) 233-6553,
• or email coordinator Steve Gross (sgross@ddschools.org)
• no later than Monday, Oct. 30, if possible.