The annual “Rake Up Pueblo” is one of Pueblo’s influential community service events that gathers volunteers to clean up older adults’ yards in the fall when the trees lose their leaves.
The event is coordinated by Pueblo’s Senior Resource Development Agency (SRDA). Its umbrella logo symbolizes the 11-plus programs it houses to assist older adults remain active and live independently and safely.
“This is the 26th year that Rake Up Pueblo has happened, and we have all kinds of different teams that go out and rake,” said Karen Akin, who has served as a coordinator for SRDA since 2001.
Originally, Rake Up Pueblo was a one-day event that took place on a Saturday. According to Akin, a former SRDA coordinator, Gloria Valdez, helped start the event. She brought all the volunteers together in the dining hall at the SRDA for a large breakfast before dispersing into the community to rake up lawns.
COVID guidelines encouraged social distancing and allowed small teams to still go out independently to rake. Rake Up Pueblo now is spread across almost two weeks. Akin coordinates volunteer teams, and its leaders will contact homeowners to let them know when the group will come to clean up the leaves.
Teams for Rake Up Pueblo range from clubs in local high schools and middle schools, CSU Pueblo, church groups, and other corporate teams from local banks and real estate firms, for example. Teams range in size, from 3-10 people and SRDA sees 30-35 teams typically sign up for the annual event.
One of the groups that sign up to volunteer is Circle K, a community-service based organization at CSU Pueblo. The group has volunteered for Rake Up Pueblo for the past three years since restarting as a club at the university.
“I think it’s great to be able to come to these people’s houses and rake their leaves, especially for people who might not be able to because of certain circumstances. Being able to help the community that I’ve grown up in all my life means a lot,” said Sean DeHeart, a senior student and member of CSU Pueblo’s Circle K.
There are more than 90 households in the community signed up for Rake Up Pueblo.
“People start calling us in August to make sure they are still on the list,” Akin said. “Often, these are people who can physically no longer accomplish this task or can’t afford to hire someone to come and beautify their yards for the holidays and the winter.”
The trash bags used during the clean-up are donated by local businesses. This year, Black Hills Energy has volunteered to pick up the full bags of leaves from the houses of the older adults from SRDA’s list.
To volunteer as an individual, call the SRDA, and a coordinator will place you with an existing team. The event occurs annually at the end of November.
“Seeing younger people who care to spend an hour helping older adults stay home safely is very meaningful. Many do not have family in town or may be isolated. This human kindness is looked forward to every year,” Akin said.
