United Way's community Rake-a-Thon this Saturday

By Nicole Strittmater
Journal staff

Marguerite Euler, 90, lives alone in Plover and hasn't been able to keep up with the yard work since her husband died three years ago.

But for the past two years, community members have volunteered to clear her lawn during United Way of Portage County's Rake-a-Thon, the local contribution to the nationwide Make A Difference Day. This years's event will be Saturday.

"I'm an elderly person, and I can't do it myself. So I think this is just a wonderful service. I really appreciate it," she said. "This community is such a giving community. I think the Make A Difference Day is ... just wonderful."

United Way volunteer center director Scott Winn said volunteers can create teams of all shapes and sizes -- youth groups, sports teams, poker buddies, book clubs, church groups and more. He urges people to create their own teams instead of having the volunteer center place people together. Preregistration for teams is required. The last day to register a yard or a team is Friday.

Last year, 660 volunteers raked about 120 yards for elderly and disabled people in the community.

Currently, 135 yards are registered to be raked, but United Way always is looking for more yards to clear, Winn said.

While the amount of yards has stayed the same, the volunteer numbers have doubled over the years. Currently, roughly 485 volunteers -- 48 teams -- are signed up. That equals about three yards per team. The job always is done quickly, and there's room for more, he said.

"It's a good opportunity to serve our community and say, ... 'Maybe one day I'll need my neighbor to help me with something,'" Winn said.

"It's a really fun event. It's such a great thing you can do for someone else," said Laura Janssen, United Way of Portage County director of marketing and communications. "It doesn't take very long, and you can make a big difference for some people."