A community service project is celebrating its 20th year this year and continues to give back to the communities in Greene County.

Greene County High School Coordinator Teresa Green says high school and some middle school students helped to rake 133 yards of leafs in Jefferson, Grand Junction and Scranton Thursday. She points out that when the annual project started in 1997 they had ten yards. She reflects back on the years that she’s led the project and her favorite parts of it.

“One of the things that stands out in my mind is how helpful the kids are and also how helpful community members are to step up and volunteer to drive garbage trucks and to volunteer to be with the groups. Almost without any hesitation people will say, ‘Yes they will help with leaf raking’ or they’ll say, ‘Put me on the list to help with next year’s.’”

High School student Baylee Eider has volunteered to help rake leaves in the past, but this was her first year helping to coordinate it. She says she used technology to help make the coordination of where to send people easier.

“I have been on Google Maps and put in all the addresses and put a pin on it so we can figure out our transportation, and bus routes, and everything.”

Green says a total of 721 people helped with the project. About 660 students and staff participated, along with 39 pickup drivers, three garbage truck drivers and 19 volunteers. Sixty-four dozen Bunkers’ Dunkers donuts were provided by Home State Bank, People’s Trust and Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, along with 36 cases of bottled water donated by Fareway and Hy-Vee.

Green is appreciative of all the community support and for the participants who make the community-wide project as successful as it has been.