Oskaloosa Youth Reaches Goal Of Helping 50 People, But The Mission Continues

Levi Jarvis (left) and Rodney Smith (right).

July, 10th, 2023

Oskaloosa, Iowa – It’s been hot so far this summer, but it’s not diminished the desire of young Levi Jarvis to help others in his community.

All of that hard work recently came with a reward when Rodney Smith Jr came to Oskaloosa to award Jarvis and his parents their black t-shirts and a brand new lawn mower, weed-eater, and leaf blower to Levi for his commitment to the Oskaloosa community.

The story of the 50-yard-challenge starts with founder Smith who was leaving school one day in 2015, and he came upon an elderly man mowing his lawn. “It looked like he was struggling, so I pulled over and helped him out.”

Smith then decided that day to start mowing lawns for free for the elderly, disabled, single parents, and veterans.

“One thing led to another,” Smith said of the founding of Raising Men and Women Lawn Care Service.

Smith was in Oskaloosa, awarding 12-year-old Levi Jarvis a new mower, weed-eater, and leaf-blower for completing the 50-yard Challenge.

Levi started his quest for 50 lawns in mid-May and, with the bad pun intended, began mowing his way through the challenge.

Brandon Jarvis, the father of Levi, spoke about his son’s accomplishment. “[It] feels good to know he’s got a good heart to help people.”

“He’s not getting paid for it, but he sees a smile on their face at the end of the day that he was able to help them out,” said Brandon of watching his son help others.

Upon seeing the van pull up that delivered the new equipment, Brandon admits his heart was “pumping a little bit.”

“He’s been waiting on this day,” Brandon says, watching his son. “He likes to mow.”

Brandon credited his wife Jenny, who has assisted Levi during the day to get to the various lawns around town.

We bugged Levi, pulling him away from his new equipment to ask how he felt about achieving his goal. “Good,” was the answer.

Levi’s piece of advice to others contemplating helping others is, “Just do it.”

For Levi, some of his favorite memories are seeing the yards transformed by his work. The “thank you” after the job was completed made it even more special.

You can catch up with Levi on Levi’s Lend a Hand Lawn Care page Here.

You can learn more about the 50-yard-challenge by visiting the challenge website Here.