What: RASKALS Volunteer Event
When: Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Oxford Senior Center, 922 Tollgate Drive
More: Register by Monday, Oct. 21
Contact: Jennifer Marcum at 513-523-8100 or email jmarcum@oxfordsenior.org
OXFORD — Raking leaves is just an annoyance for many people, but for some senior citizens the task can be daunting.
That’s where the Random Acts of Simple Kindness Affecting Local Seniors, or RASKALS, program comes in.
Each fall groups of volunteers organized by RASKALS help older citizens by raking leaves, picking up twigs, and performing other yard work that is difficult for seniors to do themselves. This year, volunteers will get out their rakes Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon.
“Most of our volunteers are Miami (University) students and Talawanda High School students,” said Oxford Seniors Volunteer Coordinator Jennifer Marcum. “We’re hoping to get 200 to sign up this year.”
The program is in its fourth year and last year the event helped 25 elderly clients. Marcum said the goal is to expand to as many as 35 this year.
RASKALS is a community service program put on by the Senior Action Group Exchange, a committee comprised of any organization that works with senior citizens in some way. RASKALS was started when an 11-year-old girl looking for a community service project mailed a letter to the West Chester Township administrator in 1996, Marcum said. The event has since spread to other communities in the area.
Volunteers meet in the morning at the Senior Center, 922 Tollgate Drive, Oxford, for a light breakfast and to receive their t-shirts. From there, the volunteers get organized and head out to the client’s homes.
Miami University students, Oxford families and residents can volunteer to help by calling 513-523-8100 or emailing Marcum at jmarcum@oxfordsenior.org. The deadline to sign up is Monday, Oct. 21.
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