Great River Faith in Action (GRAFIA) recently held their 11th annual "Rake the Town & Gather 'Round" event this past Saturday, raking the lawns of nearly 75 homeowners in need of a helping hand around Sherburne County and parts of Wright County.
This year, over 500 volunteers raked and hauled away leaves, including youth and leaders from Becker Evangelical Free, Faith Lutheran, Grace Lutheran, Oakwood and Becker Baptist churches as well as NHS students from Becker and Big Lake High School and other groups and individuals from the Clear Lake and Monticello areas.
Carol Peckskamp and Sharon Kiffmeyer’s families also volunteered for the day’s efforts.
In Clear Lake, Julie Wennerberg organized a group and went to needy homes throughout her community.
In Big Lake, Darin Bohlkan and the Thrifty White Company — along with the Big Lake student council, Saron Lutheran Church, Krissy Porath, the Big Lake Boy Scouts, Mary of the Visitation Church, April Carlson family, Debbie Stolz, the John Pfaff group and the Alissa Nesvold group all donated their time and efforts for the worthy cause.
Altogether more than 1,500 hours of volunteer service were recorded for the event. The program aims to aid seniors, families in need and disabled homeowners who are unable to have their lawns tended to this fall season.
Afterwards, a meal was held as a measure of thanks for the rakers' hard work and the "Gather 'Rounds" were organized by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) out of Elk River. Charlotte Strei pulled in 24 volunteers from her organization to serve at the dinner sites.
The meals were generously donated by area merchants. A few of the local Gather Round sites were: Grace Lutheran Church, 11185 27th Ave SE. in Becker; United Methodist Church, 1304 Main Street, Elk River; Bethany Bible Church, 511 Eagle Lake Road, Big Lake.
The communities the event affected were Becker, Big Lake, Clear Lake, Clearwater, Monticello, Otsego, Elk River, Zimmerman and Princeton — just about everywhere in the county except St. Cloud.
For more information on Faith in Action and the youth project or the volunteer or caregiver programs, please call 763-263-4277, or stop by the office at 13074 Edgewood in Becker.
(Additional Cutline for photo: In front, laying down - Alexis Drehmel. Row one (L to R) - Allison Drehmel, Christine Olsen, Caroline Olsen, Kathy Sachs, Ty Slack, Caleb Slack, Miles Slack and Jude Slack. Row two (L to R) - Lou Husmann, Emily Roghair, Janeen Klinkenborg, Ann Olson, Frankie Baker-Klinkenborg, Laura Slack, Anders Holm, Shannon Holm, Caleb Holm and Benjamin Holm. Row three (L to R) - Mike Slack, Jon Klinkenborg, Mike Nitsch and Kevin Drehmel.)
