Rodney Smith Jr. got the idea for his lawn care company after he saw an elderly man struggle to mow his lawn.
"I thought I needed to do something about it," Smith told USA Today. "That's when I decided to cut lawns for the elderly, disabled and single mothers for free."
Smith and his friend Terrence Stroy started Raising Men Lawn Care Service in September 2015. The goal was to cut 40 lawns for free by winter. They completed the goal in six weeks. Soon they cut 100.
Smith, who was attending Alabama A&M and cuts lawns in his spare time, started recruiting neighborhood youth to help.
"I want boys to follow in my footsteps and be better than me and give back," Smith told USA Today.
As word of the service spread, so did requests for lawn care.
Help did too.
Smith got donations of lawn equipment, gasoline and help with maintenance for it. He set up a GoFundMe to help pay other costs of the lawn service.
Small engine maker Briggs and Stratton profiled Smith in its You.Powered program. The company also provided Smith with lawn equipment and paid the original GoFundMe goal of $2,000. The account now has raised more than $50,000.
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